Hureau named Rookie of the Year

IU women’s tennis coach Lin Loring said it was unusual for a freshman to see so much action in the top singles slots.

But freshman Leslie Hureau’s rare situation, playing No. 1 singles in 13 matches this season, might have been the biggest factor in her garnering the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s Ohio Valley Region Rookie of the Year honor.

The native of France  earned the distinction after winning 44 total matches in her initial campaign with the Hoosiers, 25 coming in singles and 19 in doubles.

“That just says a lot for the season she had and the fact that she could be successful playing high in the lineup,” Loring said.

Loring said the fact that Hureau was a dedicated student and worker made a difference in her ability to become an impact player so soon.

“A lot of freshmen have adjustments to make, and if you think about all the adjustments an international player has to make with culture and language and
everything, it really makes that ‘coming to college’ experience that much more difficult,” he said. “She just handled it really well. She’s very low-maintenance.
 
“She just kind of showed up every day and worked hard in practice. She was a true student-athlete. I can’t say enough good things about her.”

Loring pointed to several of Hureau’s key matches during the season as evidence that she was deserving of being named the region’s top freshman.

One such contest occurred Feb. 21 against then-No. 10 Tennessee. Hureau defeated Maria Sorbello, then ranked 38th in the nation, 6-3, 7-5.

Loring also praised her efforts against Kentucky, Ohio State and Purdue.

“She’s had some wins against some very good players, and she’s had some good losses against some of the top players,” he said. “I think the experience of playing one and two in every match as a freshman, that’s really going to help her the rest of her college career.”

And that remainder of her college career — three more years — has Loring excited not only about the prospects for Hureau individually but also for those of his whole team.
“We have (rising junior) Evgeniya (Vertesheva) back for two more years and Leslie back for three more years,” he said. “That’s a great feeling as a coach.”