Ashley Ishimura Earns All-BIG EAST Recognition For Second Consecutive Season

OMAHA, Neb. -- Creighton's women's tennis senior Ashley Ishimura earned All-BIG EAST Second Team accolades, the conference announced on Wednesday afternoon. Ishimura also claimed all-conference recognition in 2018 to become the fourth Bluejay in program history to earn multiple all-conference selections, joining Katie Chiu (2006, 2007), Jennie Hartjes (2013, 2015) and Tess Reddin (2009, 2010).

Playing in the No. 1 singles position for the fourth consecutive season, Ishimura earned seven singles wins during 2019 to finish her time at Creighton ranked in the top-10 in program history with 60 career victories. This season she went 2-2 against BIG EAST competition and forced a third set with Marquette's Fleur Eggink before the match was clinched and earned a first set victory against DePaul's Keisha Clousing during the BIG EAST Championships.

She also combined with Sarah Wilcox for 10 doubles victories at the top position with a 3-2 mark against conference foes and a win against a pair from Air Force that ranked 35th nationally.

"Although Ashley didn't have her best season playing against everyone's top players, this is certainly a recognition I was expecting," head coach Tom Lilly said. "She definitely proved the past few years that she is one of the best in the conference."

Ishimura ended her four-year Bluejay career with 115 wins (60 singles, 55 doubles), which ranks fifth on Creighton's career wins list.

The Hawai'i native helped guide Creighton to a 9-13 dual record in 2019 and a spot in the BIG EAST Championship quarterfinals before losing to eventual conference champion DePaul.

2019 BIG EAST Women's Tennis Awards
Player of the Year: Jessica Livianu, St. John's, Jr.
Freshman of the Year: Emily Thomas, Xavier
Coaching Staff of the Year: DePaul

All-BIG EAST First Team
Aspasia Avgeri, DePaul, Jr.
Keisha Clousing, DePaul, Sr.
Fleur Eggink, Marquette, Jr.
Jessica Livianu, St. John's, Jr.
Sophia Abelson, Xavier, Sr.
Ahmeir Kyle, Xavier, So.

All-BIG EAST Second Team*
Ashley Ishimura, Creighton, Sr.
Marija Jovicic, DePaul, So.
Alina Kuzmenkova, DePaul, So.
Milica Novakovic, Marquette, Jr.
Anicka Fajnorova, Seton Hall, Sr.
Regina Pitts, Seton Hall, Fr.
Emily Thomas, Xavier, Fr.
*A tie in voting resulted in a seven-member second team

Ashley Ishimura Earns All-BIG EAST Recognition For Second Consecutive Season

Players Mentioned

Ashley Ishimura

Sarah Wilcox

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