ST. LOUIS, MO. - Six former Drake standouts have been named to the All-Time Missouri Valley Conference Men's and Women's Tennis Teams.

In addition, Jeff Vaage (1986-99) was among nine coaches honored as MVC All-Centennial Coaches.

Under Vaage, Drake won seven Missouri Valley Conference women's tennis crowns (1989-93, 1996, 1999), including five consecutive titles from 1989 through 1993.

Team composition for each sport was determined through an on-line fan vote (www.mvc100.org) and by a centennial committee. Fans also designated all-time coaches as part of the on-line voting process. For consideration, players must have competed in the MVC, been a top-of-the-lineup player and must have performed well against their contemporaries.

Earning recognition for the Bulldogs were Robert Novotny (1993-97), Ross Nwachukwu (1990-94) and Sergi Vila (2003-07) on the men's side, while Nikki Uelze (1992-95), Tisa Vial (1985-88) and Vera Vitels (1989-92) represented Drake women's tennis.

? Robert Novotny, Drake (1993-97); Three-time No. 1 singles champ, 206 combined wins, 1997 Region V Player of the Year, two-time NCAA qualifier
? Ross Nwachukwu, Drake (1990-94); One-time No. 2 singles champ, 183 combined wins, 1994 Region V Player of the Year, one-time NCAA qualifier
? Sergi Vila, Drake (2003-07); One-time No. 1 singles champ, one-time No. 2 singles champ
? Nikki Uelze, Drake (1992-95); One-time No. 1 singles champ, one-time No. 3 singles champ, two-time No. 1 doubles champ
? Tisa Vial, Drake (1985-88); One-time No. 1 singles champ, two-time No. 2 singles champ, two-time No. 1 doubles champ
? Vera Vitels, Drake (1989-92); Two-time No. 1 singles champ, two-time No. 1 doubles champ

In the league's first 99 seasons, 32 members combined for 27 national championships, while 56 Valley student-athletes captured NCAA individual titles. In addition, Valley student-athletes and coaches earned 51 National Player or Coach of the Year honors in their respective sports. And the league had a myriad of student-athletes who collected All-America honors and earned national academic distinction in The Valley's first century.

Tennis (sponsored 1912 to present): Twenty-nine programs have sponsored track & field in conference history. Drake is the longest-tenured member, completing its 95th season in 2006-07. All-time sport sponsors in order of tenure: Drake (1907-08 -- 1950-51; 1956-57 -- present); Tulsa (1934-35 --1995-96); Wichita State (1945-46 -- present); Bradley (1948-49 -- 1950-51; 1955-56 -- present); Creighton (1928-29 -- 1942-43; 1945-46 -- 1947-48; 1976-77-- present); Washington (Mo.) (1907-08 -- 1909-10; 1946-47); Saint Louis (1937-38 -- 1942-43; 1944-45 -- 1973-74); Oklahoma A&M (1925-26 -- 1956-57); Southern Illinois (1974-75 -- present); Indiana State (1976-77 -- present); Illinois State (1980-81 -- present); Grinnell (1918-19 -- 1938-39); Kansas (1907-08 -- 1927-28); Missouri (1907-08 -- 1927-28); Nebraska (1907-08 -- 1918-19; 1920-21 -- 1927-28); North Texas State (1957-58 -- 1974-75); Missouri State (1990-91 -- present); West Texas State (1970-71 -- 1985-86); UNI (1991-92 -- present); New Mexico State (1970-71 -- 1982-83); Cincinnati (1957-58 -- 1969-70); Evansville (1994-95 -- present); Louisville (1964-65 -- 1974-75); Houston (1950-51 -- 1959-60); Oklahoma (1919-20 -- 1927-28); Detroit (1949-50 -- 1956-57); Washburn (1934-35 -- 1940-41); Memphis State (1967-68 -- 1972-73); Butler (1932-33 -- 1933-34) Current members bold. Eight of 10 MVC members (all but Creighton and Evansville) were Gateway Conference members for their women's sports from 1983-92. Eastern Illinois and Western Illinois participated in the Gateway Conference in women's athletics and their records are recognized as part of the Valley record books.


Missouri Valley Conference Men's Tennis All-Centennial Team
? Dennis Crawford, Bradley (1968-70); 56-11 (.836) career singles record at No. 1 and 2 singles
? Bill Lofgren, Bradley (1968-70); One-time No. 1 singles champ; .904 career winning percentage (66-7)
? David Markin, Bradley (1951-53); 59-17 career record at No. 1 singles
? Tom Lilly, Creighton (1990-93); 124 career wins; No. 1 singles on CU's best-finishing MVC team
? Robert Novotny, Drake (1993-97); Three-time No. 1 singles champ, 206 combined wins, 1997 Region V Player of the Year, two-time NCAA qualifier
? Ross Nwachukwu, Drake (1990-94); One-time No. 2 singles champ, 183 combined wins, 1994 Region V Player of the Year, one-time NCAA qualifier
? Sergi Vila, Drake (2003-07); One-time No. 1 singles champ, one-time No. 2 singles champ
? John Been, Houston (1954-56); Three-time MVC singles champ
? Jason Smit, Illinois State (1999-03); 184 combined wins
? Lovre Brajkovic, Indiana State (2000-03); One-time No. 1 singles champ
? Stefan Hirn, Indiana State (1999-02); Two-time No. 2 singles champ, one-time No. 1 doubles champ, four-time all-MVC, 237 combined wins
? Jonas Piibor, Indiana State (1998-01); One-time No. 1 singles champ, two-time No. 2 singles champ, two-time NCAA singles qualifier
? Vedran Vidovic, Indiana State (2000-03); One-time No. 1 singles champ
? Lars Nordmark, Indiana State (1983-86); One-time No. 1 singles champ
? Pavel Hanek, Missouri State (2001-04); One-time No. 1 singles champ
? Jiri Spousta, Missouri State (2002-05); One-time No. 1 singles champ, one-time No. 2 singles champ
? Ben Parks, Oklahoma (1921-23); Three-time MVC Champ
? Mel Ampon, Southern Illinois (1973-76); One-time No. 1 singles champ
? Mickey Maule, Southern Illinois (1987-90); One-time No. 1 singles champ, 1990 Region V Player of the Year, 156 combined wins
? Per Wadmark, Southern Illinois (1982-85); One-time No. 1 singles champ
? Gerrin Cameron, Tulsa (1936-38); Three-time MVC singles champ
? Dave Hopper, Tulsa (1986-89); Two-time No. 1 singles champ
? Bob Patterson, Tulsa (1939-41); Two-time MVC singles champ
? Wray Brown, Washington (St. Louis) (1920-22); One-time MVC singles champ, two-time doubles champ
? Robert Hoerr, Washington (St. Louis) (1913-15); Two-time MVC singles champ
? Ben Anzola, Wichita State (1964-66); Three-time MVC singles champ, three-time No. 1 doubles champ, 1964 All-American
? Phil Cooper, Wichita State (1993-97); One-time No. 1 singles champ; 1996 All-American
? Mark McMahon, Wichita State (1977-80); Two-time No. 1 singles champ
? Roberto Saad, Wichita State (1980-84); Three-time No. 1 singles champ, two-time No. 1 doubles champ, two-time All-American, NCAA singles quarterfinalist and doubles semifinalist (1984)
? Paul Smith, Wichita State (1973-78); 1983 All-American, 1983 indoor doubles national champ, three-time No. 1 doubles champ, two-time No. 2 singles champ
? Mervyn Webster, Wichita State (1968-72); Three-time No. 1 singles champ, two-time No. 1 doubles champ
? Goran Vujaklija, Wichita State (2004-07); One-time No. 1 singles champ, one-time No. 2 singles champ

Missouri Valley Conference Women's Tennis All-Centennial Team
? Cindy Schneider, Bradley (1985-88); 101 combined wins, BU's only MVC singles champion
? Katie Chiu, Creighton (2003-07); 144 combined wins, two-time all-conference, four-year No. 1 singles player
? Nikki Uelze, Drake (1992-95); One-time No. 1 singles champ, one-time No. 3 singles champ, two-time No. 1 doubles champ
? Tisa Vial, Drake (1985-88); One-time No. 1 singles champ, two-time No. 2 singles champ, two-time No. 1 doubles champ
? Vera Vitels, Drake (1989-92); Two-time No. 1 singles champ, two-time No. 1 doubles champ
? Karen Black, Evansville (1996-99); One-time No. 1 singles champ, three-time all-conference, 173 combined wins
? Janelle Crabtree, Illinois State (1992-95); 177 combined wins, three-year No. 1 singles, four-year No. 1 doubles
? Alesia Mikalayvea, Illinois State (1999-2002); 2-time No. 2 singles champ, 176 combined wins, one-time NCAA qualifier (doubles), three-time No. 1 doubles champ, Midwest region doubles champ (2001)
? Liina Suurvarik, Illinois State (2001-04); Four-time No. 1 singles champ; two-time NCAA qualifier (one singles, one doubles), 245 combined wins, 130-25 singles, 47-1 MVC singles mark, four-time No. 1 doubles champ, Midwest region doubles champ (2001)
? Luciana Espinar, Indiana State (1995-99); 163 combined wins, one-time No. 2 singles champ
? Jennifer Migan, Indiana State (2004-08); Two-time No. 1 singles champ, 88-15 singles record, 166 combined wins
? Ia Zozrashvili, Missouri State (2000-03); Three-time all-MVC, four-year No. 1 singles
? Pamela Floro, Southern Illinois (1998-00); One-time No. 1 singles champ, one-time No. 2 singles champ, one-time No. 1 doubles champ, 56-8 doubles record
? Allessandra Molinari, Southern Illinois (1983); One-time No. 2 singles champ, two-time doubles champ
? Simona Petrutiu, Southern Illinois (1998-00); One-time No. 1 singles champ, 47-14 singles record, 56-8 doubles record, one-time No. 1 doubles champ
? Kathy Gates, Western Illinois (1984-87); Two-time No. 1 singles champ, one-time No. 1 doubles champ
? Mary Pat Donovan, Western Illinois (1984-87); Three-time No. 2 singles champ, one-time No. 2 doubles champ
? Jill Braendle, Wichita State (1982-86); Two-time NCAA qualifier (doubles), one-time No. 1 singles champ, two-time No. 2 singles champ, one-time No. 3 singles champ, 223 combined wins
? Lisa Field, Wichita State (1994-98); One-time NCAA qualifier (doubles), two-time No. 1 singles champ, 191 combined wins
? Annette Hartman, Wichita State (1995-99); Two-time No. 2 singles champ, two-time doubles champ
? Madina Rakhim, Wichita State (2006-07); One-time NCAA qualifier (singles), 97-10 career record, No. 1 player on first NCAA winning women's team
? Sandy Sadler, Wichita State (1981-85); Three-time NCAA qualifier (one singles, two doubles), four-time No. 1 singles champ, 260 combined wins
? JoEllen Walker, Wichita State (1991-95); One-time NCAA qualifier (doubles), 181 combined wins

Missouri Valley Conference Tennis All-Centennial Team Coaches
? Jeff Vaage, Drake (1986-99); Seven-time MVC women's champ, five-consecutive women's titles (1989-93)
? Chris Hoover, Illinois State (1994-present); Four-time women's MVC Tournament Champion (2001, 2003,2004,2005); coached two NCAA individual qualifiers (one singles/one doubles)
? Brian Boland, Indiana State (1997-01); 122-33 record three-time MVC champ, won two NCAA first round matches, coached two-time NCAA qualifier Jonas Piibor
? David Kent, West Texas State (1971-78); Six-time MVC men's champ, four-consecutive men's titles (1973-76)
? Rex Coad, Wichita State (1973-78 player; 1980-88 coach); NCAA doubles qualifier, coached 25 different MVC champs, 152-83 record; won nine-consecutive MVC men's titles (1980-88)
? Jay Louderback, Wichita State (1979-86); Three-time MVC women's champ (1982, 84, 86), 129 career wins, 15 conference champs, coached three NCAA qualifiers, including league's first woman (Sandy Sadler)
? Bill Nichols, Wichita State (1989-00); Five-time MVC men's Champ (1989, 91, 94, 97, 98), two-time Coach of the Year, coached one All-American,
? Les Stafford, Wichita State (1990-04); Four-time MVC Champ (1994, 95, 97, 98), 151 career victories, coached one NCAA qualifier (doubles)
? Chris Young, Wichita State (2004-present); Coached first women's team to an NCAA Tournament win; achieved MVC's highest ITA ranking (16); two-time women's MVC tournament and regular-season champ (2006, 2007), coached NCAA singles qualifer.