One UAFS Lady Lion and three Lion tennis players were named All-Heartland Conference for their performances this past season.
            Junior Amy Belanger was the lone Lady Lion to earn All-Conference honors. Belanger, who is a graduate from Austin, Texas, played No. 2 doubles with junior Whitney Hobson and No. 3 singles.
            In the first round of the conference tournament, Belanger teamed up with Hobson to defeat Newman’s Lisa Pleskan and Carissa Villaflor 8-6. In singles play, Belanger was ahead the entire match, but her match was halted once UAFS earned the number of wins to secure the match.
            In the semifinals against the No. 1 seed St. Mary’s, Belanger and Hobson lost to Christina Lopez and Felicity Delgado 8-3 in doubles. Belanger then lost a close match to Delgado 6-3, 6-3 in singles play. The Lady Lions lost 5-1 to the Lady Rattlers, who went on to beat St. Edwards in the tournament title match.
            Freshman Chris Ramirez, who is from Mission, Texas, was named All-Conference and Conference Co-freshman of the Year. Ramirez played No. 1 doubles with freshman Jorge Salazar and played No. 2 singles. Together during the regular-season, Ramirez and Salazar defeated opponents that were ranked regionally, as well as nationally.
            During the first round of the conference tournament against Dallas Baptist, Ramirez and Salazar defeated Phillip Allen and Anthony Burch 8-2. In singles play, Ramirez was ahead by one set and ahead 5-1 overall in his match when the match was called after UAFS earned the number of wins to win the overall match.
            In the semifinals against St. Edward’s, Ramirez and Salazar beat Pedro Bronstrup and Felix Bake 9-7 in No. 1 doubles. Ramirez’s No. 2 singles match was called in the second set after St. Edward’s earned enough wins to win the overall match. St. Edward’s went on to beat top-seeded St. Mary’s in the championship match.
            Freshman Jorge Salazar, who is from Guadalajara, Mexico, played at No. 1 doubles with Ramirez and No. 3 singles. Salazar was one of the two players that helped secure the Lions’ win against Dallas Baptist by defeating Burch in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1. In the semifinals, Salazar and Ramirez teamed up to defeat Bronstrup and Bake 9-7. Salazar’s semifinal singles match was halted in the second set after St. Edward’s earned enough wins to win the overall match.
            Freshman Matt Tabler, who is from Bentonville, Ark., played No. 2 doubles, teaming up with freshman Clay Sandefur, and played No. 4 singles.
            In the first round against Dallas Baptist, Tabler and Sandefur beat Bradley Hillard and Ty McAllister 8-3. In singles, Tabler defeated Nathan Wilson in straight sets 6-3, 6-1 to give the lions their last win and clinch a spot in the semifinals.
            Tabler and Sandefur lost their semifinal doubles match 8-2 to James Rogers and Maximno Agoglia, and Tabler lost his No. 4 singles match to Bake 7-5, 6-2.