FARMVILLE, Va. – The Longwood University men's and women's tennis teams announced this year's award winners at their annual banquet on April 30. Senior Giorgi Khmiadashvili/Tbilisi, Georgia of the men's team and sophomore Malin Allgurin/Värnamo, Sweden of the women's team were each named the Most Valuable Singles Player for their respective squad.

“Giorgi has been a great leader for us all year at the No. 1 spot and it was very apparent that he would turn into the MVP,” said head coach Jakob Gustafsson. “Malin knows what its like to win the Singles MVP award for two years in a row now. She has been very impressive for us.”

Khmiadashvili finished 11-11 overall for the men with a 3-5 record in Big South Conference matches. On the women's side, Allgurin paced the Lancers with a 19-11 overall record, including a 5-4 mark in the Big South.

Other awards given out at the banquet were Most Valuable Doubles Team and Most Improved Player. Sophomore Steed Johnson/Ahoskie, N.C. and freshman James Fudge/Kaarst, Germany were honored as the top doubles team for the men with a 10-10 record this season, while Allgurin and junior Sarah Moomau/Winchester received the award for the women's team with a 17-11 record in 2012-13.

“For men's doubles, Steed and James have been our dream team, and if they keep on developing together, I see them becoming a very dominant pair,” Gustafsson commented. “For the women, Sarah and Malin were a gamble early on, but they both embraced it and worked very hard on improving their doubles skills. Sarah's aggressiveness to serve and volley is what makes this team so successful. I am curious to see how they will attempt to take another step next year.”

Johnson and junior Nicole Parker/Richmond were named the Most Improved Players. Parker, who finished 13-13 in 2011-12, turned in a 14-7 record this season, while Johnson improved from 7-8 last year to 12-12 in his sophomore campaign.

“Steed came back for his sophomore year in great shape and ready to do a lot of damage on the court,” concluded the second-year head coach. “I am very proud of the work he put in during the offseason and during the season itself. Nicole has had a very strong year in singles and has been very impressive with her play in the Big South. Looking back at last year's record with perhaps an easier schedule, it is easy to see she definitely stepped her game up to a new level.”