Frisco, Texas – The Southland Conference has released its awards for the 2014 women's tennis season, and the Central Arkansas Bears saw a player receive an individual award for the first time in the school's eight years in the league. Junior Kelsey Williams was named the conference's Newcomer of the Year.

Williams, a native of Victoria, Australia, transferred to Central Arkansas after spending three semesters at East Tennessee State. She took over the No. 2 singles spot for the Bears, going 4-8 in SLC play, an improvement over last season, when Central Arkansas managed just two wins at the spot. On the season, Williams picked up nine wins in singles play, including seven at the No. 2 spot, and was 4-1 during the Bears' five-match conference winning streak.

Central Arkansas head coach Jeff Borengasser was understandably excited for Williams, saying, "This is a well-deserved award for Kelsey, who has been a great addition to our team.  She is a very intense competitor, and is someone that can always be counted on to give a one hundred percent effort.  She also has a passion for seeing our team succeed.  This recognition for Kelsey demonstrates that the voters understand how tough it is to play in the top positions in this conference, and Kelsey's individual success in the top line in doubles and in the No. 2 singles position this year has certainly contributed to our team's success."

Williams and the Bears earned the seventh seed in the SLC Tournament, which takes place in Corpus Christi, Texas this weekend. Central Arkansas will take on second-seeded Texas-A&M-Corpus Christi at 2:00 P.M. on Friday afternoon, with the winner advancing to face the winner of McNeese State and Southeastern Louisiana at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday.