Hantack named Coach of the Year; Smith earns All-SLIAC accolades

St. Louis, Mo. - As announced by the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference today, women's tennis head coach James Hantack is the 2017 SLIAC Coach of the Year while Morgan Smith garnered honorable mention All-SLIAC singles honors. 

Hantack is the first coach in the history of Fontbonne women's tennis to earn the award. The Griffins finished third in the SLIAC Tournament, their highest finish ever. Fontbonne was seeded third after a tie-breaker, also an all-time high as the Griffins earned their first-ever first-round tournament victory as well. Fontbonne finished the season 2-3 in conference play and 5-15 overall. 

Smith, a freshman from Swansea, Ill. - garnered honorable mention All-SLIAC honors at No. 2-singles. She went 4-1 in the regular season in conference during singles competitions, and 6-2 against SLIAC opponents throughout the year for the best freshman record among newcomers in SLIAC-play at the No. 2-position. Brittany Duke from Principia was the only other freshman earning All-SLIAC accolades, coming in at No. 6-singles and No. 3-doubles. Smith was the only student-athlete represented outside of Webster and Principia to earn all-conference singles or doubles accolades.

Smith was chosen to represent Fontbonne on the SLIAC All-Sportsmanship team. She is just the second Griffin in the history of Fontbonne women's tennis to earn All-SLIAC accolades and the first at No. 2-singles. Sarah Busken earned honorable mention All-SLIAC at No. 5-singles in 2005.

FULL SLIAC RELEASE