ATLANTA – Georgia State freshman tennis standout Abigail Tere-Apisah was named the Most Outstanding Performer at the Virginia 529 College Savings Plan CAA Women’s Tennis Championship by a vote of the league’s head coaches.

“Abigail has been a great addition to the team and is a great building block for where the team wants to be in the future,” said head coach Miha Lisac. “She really deserves this honor and stepped up her game in conference.”

“As coaches, we believe this was a great first step for Abigail, and we want her to build upon her success to succeed in the future,” added Lisac.

Tere-Apisah, from Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, posted a perfect 3-0 record in singles and a 2-0 mark in doubles to help lead third-seeded Georgia State to the finals of the CAA Championship for the second time in the last three years. The Panthers fell in the finals to 44th-ranked William and Mary, 4-2.

Tere-Apisah, playing at the No. 1 singles position, easily took down Delaware’s Megan Doran, 6-1, 6-1, in Georgia State’s 4-0 victory in the CAA quarterfinals. The Panthers’ upset No. 2 seeded VCU, 4-2, in the CAA semifinals thanks to Tere-Apisah rallying for a 1-6, 6-3, 6-2, victory against the Rams’ Kateryna Yergina.

In the CAA finals, Tere-Apisah rolled past William & Mary’s Hope Johnson, 6-2, 6-3, to earn her 14th win of the season.

Tere-Apisah and Maryna Kozachenko, who improved to No. 42 in the ITA national rankings in doubles, defeated Delaware’s Doran and Samantha Carnall, 8-3, in the quarterfinals. The pair then clinched the doubles point against William & Mary’s Johnson and Anik Cepeda, 8-6, in the CAA title match.

Tere-Apisah earned first-team All-CAA honors in singles and doubles and was selected as the CAA women’s tennis Rookie of the Year. She finished the season with a 14-2 record and was undefeated in conference play at 6-0.

Georgia State is ranked No. 53 in the latest ITA national rankings with a record of 15-6. The Panthers now hope for an at-large selection into the NCAA Championships. The NCAA field will be announced May 3.