BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- After guiding Ouachita Baptist to the only Gulf South Conference Championships in school history, the Women’s Tennis program was honored as Head Coach Betsy Danner was named GSC West Division Coach of the Decade, while former Lady Tiger Brenda Magnetti was named GSC West Division Player of the Decade, officials announced on Thursday.
Joining Magnetti on the GSC All-Decade First Team were former Lady Tigers Victoria Domina and Helena Besovic, while Sabrina Benitez earned GSC All-Decade Second Team honors.
Danner has led the Lady Tigers since 1993, steering the program to new heights the past 10 seasons. She is a two-time GSC Coach of the Year thanks to GSC Titles in 2003 and 2004. The 2003 crown marked the first-ever GSC Title in any sport for Ouachita Baptist. Danner led the Lady Tigers to four-straight NCAA post-seasons (2001-04) and she was voted the 2003 ITA National Coach of the Year thanks to the team’s 21-0 regular season record.
“I’m extremely honored and humbled by the selection as the GSC West Division Coach of the Decade,” Ouachita Head Coach Betsy Danner said. “It comes as a shock to me, but it’s certainly a testament to the caliber of players that I’ve had the pleasure of coaching over the decade. The four selections to the All-Decade Team are an indicator of just how talented some of the individual players have been for this program.”
Magnetti was a difference maker at No. 1 doubles and No. 1 singles for Ouachita, being named as a three-time doubles All-American and singles All-American in 2002, while competing for the Lady Tigers from 2001-2004. Magnetti teamed up with two different partners to win the National Small College Doubles Championships in 2002 and 2003, while earning All-GSC First Team honors four-straight seasons.
Domina earned GSC Player of the Year honors, while also capturing the Small College Doubles Championships on two different occasions. Besovic was a two-time First Team All-GSC member from 2002-2004, including earning the 2003 GSC Freshman of the Year award. Benitez was a two-time First Team All-GSC member, including earning Doubles All-American honors in her tenure from 2000-2004.
