NATCHITOCHES—Northwestern State freshman Mariella Minetti was rewarded for her strong play, earning second-team All-Louisiana honors from the Louisiana Sports Writers Association, the organization announced Saturday.

The two six-player teams were chosen from the state's Division I, II, III and NAIA schools. The teams were voted on by the sports information directors from Louisiana's college institutions.
Minetti, a Tampere, Finland, native, tied for the team-lead in both singles and doubles victories.

"This is a nice honor for Mariella in her freshman season," head coach Patric DuBois said. "She has a very good work ethic and will only get better over time."

At the No. 1 singles position, Minetti compiled a 9-4 record. That is the most number of victories by a freshman for the Lady Demon at the top spot in the singles rotation since Ljudmila Pavlov won 13 in 1994.

She was instrumental in the comeback victory at Lamar, coming out on top in three sets to tie the match, setting the stage for the Lady Demons to win. Minetti also came back to defeat Houston's Mimi Kendall-Woseley, leading NSU to a 4-3 victory against the Cougars.

After dominating wins against Alcorn and Texas State, Minetti was named Southland Conference Player of the Week.

Playing at the No. 1 and 2 positions in doubles, she and Patrycja Polanska finished 8-5, including emerging with a 3-0 record at the top spot.

The Lady Demons (10-4, 3-1) were playing well, having won three in a row and eight of nine, before the cancellation of the season because of the novel coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic.

This is the third consecutive season that NSU has placed a player on one of the All-Louisiana teams.

In addition to Minetti, Polanska and senior Ela Iwaniuk were named honorable mention.

Polanska was tied with Minetti for the most victories on the team, as she went 9-3 out of the No. 3 and 4 spots in the rotation. Iwaniuk finished 8-4 out of the No. 2 spot and was named SLC Player of the Week on Feb. 25 when she led the Lady Demons to dominant victories against Southern Miss and UTSA.
 
2019-20 LSWA All-Louisiana Women's Tennis Team
First Team
Taylor Bridges, LSU
Angela Charles-Alfred, Xavier
Eden Richardson, LSU
Ank Vullings, UNO
Mackenzie Clark, Tulane
Ana Jover, Louisiana Tech
 
Second Team
Lailaa Bashir, Xavier
Safiya Carrington, LSU
Nina Geissler, LSU
Patricia Martinez Molina, LSU Alexandria
Floriane Picaut, UL Lafayette
Mariella Minetti, Northwestern State
 
Honorable Mention: 
Ela Iwaniuk, Northwestern State
Alexia Romero, Louisiana Tech
Putri Insani, Southeastern Louisiana
Adelaide Lavery, Tulane
Mariona Perez Noguera, UL Lafayette
Patrycja Polanska, Northwestern State
 
Player of the Year: Taylor Bridges, LSU
Freshman of the Year: Lailaa Bashir, Xavier
Newcomer of the Year: Mariona Perez Noguera, UL Lafayette
Coach of the Year: Julia and Michael Sell, LSU