(FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.) - The USA South Athletic Conference has announced its 2017 All-Conference awards for women's tennis. Averett University's Heidi Sarkkinen earned Player of the Year, LaGrange College's Jenna Eppes was named Rookie of the Year and Methodist University's John Blackburn collected Coach of the Year. Also, the USA South recognized an All-Sportsmanship Team, consisting of one member from each competing school. 

All awards are voted on by the women's tennis coach at each institution. The divisional team voting is completed only by those coaches in the particular division. The all-conference and individual award voting is completed by all coaches.

Sarkkinen, a sophomore from Oulu, Finland, is named Player of the Year for the second consecutive season after also earning Rookie of the Year last spring. Playing at the number-one singles position throughout the season, she has earned a 15-1 overall record with a 13-0 mark against USA South opposition. In her first two years in the League, Sarkkinen has yet to lose a Conference match. In doubles play, at the top position, Sarkkinen has teamed with Hannah Mattson to earn a 13-5 overall record and a 6-1 mark during League play. For her efforts this season, Sarkkinen earned First Team All-Conference honors for the second consecutive season to go along with First Team East Division accolades. Finally, Sarkkinen was named USA South Player of the Week three times this spring.

Epps, a freshman from Adel, Georgia, becomes the first Panther to earn a USA South individual award in the sport of women's tennis. Playing at the number-one singles position throughout the season, Epps has earned a 15-10 overall record with a 5-2 mark against USA South opposition. In doubles play, at the top position, Epps has teamed with Elizabeth Knott to earn a 14-10 overall record and a 4-3 mark during League play. For her efforts this season, Epps earned First Team All-Conference honors as well as First Team West Division accolades. Finally, Epps was named USA South Rookie of the Week once this spring.

In his second season at the helm of Methodist, Blackburn earns his first USA South Women's Tennis Coach of the Year honor. This spring, he has led Methodist to a 14-6 overall record and a perfect 7-0 USA South mark, good for the Conference's East Division championship. The regular season title is the second consecutive and 21st in the program's history. The Monarchs have now won 28 consecutive regular season conference matches dating back to the 2015 season. Methodist currently sits tenth in the latest ITA Division III Atlantic South Region Rankings and enters the USA South tournament as the East's top-seeded team and defending champions.

The 2017 USA South Women's Tennis All-Conference Team: