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| Kourtney Howell |
She is the fourth XU women's player in six seasons to earn that honor, joining Dominique Bell (2007 first team, 2008 second team), Angelina Callis (2009 second team) and Anastesia Opata (2008 and 2009 first team).
Howell, a sophomore from Cypress, Texas, and a graduate of Cypress Woods High School, was 17-16 in singles and 15-17 in doubles this season, her first at Xavier since transferring from Navy in January 2011. She recorded five singles victories against ranked NAIA players, and she won a three-set super-tiebreaker against Chane Hines of NCAA Division I South Alabama. The Gold Nuggets trailed 2-0 in the semifinals and finals of an NAIA unaffiliated group tournament in April, but they got doubles and singles victories from Howell to rally for 5-2 decisions which gave Xavier an automatic berth at nationals.
Howell tied a Gulf Coast Athletic Conference season record with four Player of the Week awards, and she was NAIA Player of the Week for April 23-29.
"Kourtney is a very talented player," XU coach Alan Green said. "She is the first female I have coached who has the ability to finish almost every point at the net. She is a very smart and powerful young lady."
Xavier ranked 19th in the NAIA postseason coaches poll after qualifying for nationals for the sixth time in eight seasons.
By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information DirectorVISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS
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