Tuus Voted Best Newcomer
7/12/2010 12:00:00 AM
For the second time in the last three years, a Liberty tennis player has won the Sparky for Best Newcomer. Big South Men's Tennis Freshman of the Year Siim Tuus captured this year's honor, after dominating the fan voting from start to finish.
Voting is now open for the next-to-last category in the 2010 Sparkys, Best Female Athlete.
Tuus, a native of Rakvere, Estonia, immediately stepped in at No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles for the Liberty men's tennis team as a freshman. He helped lead the Flames to a 12-10 season and a No. 10 ranking in the final ITA Men's Division I Atlantic Regional rankings.
Individually, Tuus defeated nationally-ranked opponents from Radford and William & Mary on back-to-back days, April 10 and 11. His 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 victory over Radford's Ivan Salec helped the Flames hand the Highlanders their first Big South Conference dual loss since 2007. For his efforts, Tuus was named the Big South Men's Tennis Player of the Week on April 13.
At season's end, Tuus became only the second player in program history to be named Big South Men's Tennis Freshman of the Year. Braen Aneiros was the Flames' only previous honoree, earning co-Big South Men's Freshman of the Year honors in 2003.
Liberty fans can now choose the past year's Best Female Athlete from among the following five options: Devon Brown (women's basketball), Jordan Jenkins (women's tennis), Chelaine McCarty (volleyball), Tiffani Smith (softball) and Jaime Watson (women's track & field). Jenkins has won a pair of Sparkys during her career, including the 2008 Best Female Athlete distinction.
The winner will be determined through fan voting on the Flames Poll, which is located on the right-hand side of LibertyFlames.com.
The poll for Best Female Athlete will remain open until July 19, at which time the winner will be announced on LibertyFlames.com and balloting for Best Male Athlete will begin. A full voting schedule appears below.
Nominees for Best Female Athlete
Devon Brown (Women's Basketball)
Jordan Jenkins (Women's Tennis)
Chelaine McCarty (Volleyball)
Tiffani Smith (Softball)
Jaime Watson (Women's Track & Field)
2010 Sparkys Voting Schedule/Results
Biggest Win – Winner: Softball team's 6-4 win at Virginia (March 24, 2010)
Best Individual Performance – Winner: Sam Chelanga's NCAA national cross country championship (Nov. 23, 2009)
Best Newcomer – Winner: Siim Tuus (Men's Tennis)
Best Female Athlete (July 12-19)
Best Male Athlete (July 19-26)
Year-by-Year Winners of the Sparky for Best Newcomer
2007: Kallie Corbin (Volleyball)
2008: Jordan Jenkins (Women's Tennis)
2009: Sam Chelanga (Men's Cross Country/Track & Field)
2010: Siim Tuus (Men's Tennis)
Year-by-Year Winners of the Sparky for Best Female Athlete
2007: Megan Frazee (Women's Basketball)
2008: Jordan Jenkins (Women's Tennis)
2009: Megan Frazee (Women's Basketball)
