OGDEN, Utah—Idaho junior Marianna Petrei's rule over the Big Sky Conference continued on Friday. She was voted the conference's Most Valuable Player for the third straight season. Petrei is now one of only four individuals to have won the award in three consecutive seasons. It is the fourth straight year a Vandal has claimed the award.

"Marianna has done really well this year," head coach Babar Akbar noted. "She has had some fantastic wins. She has helped put Idaho tennis on the map."

Idaho had four individuals honored across the First and Second Teams. Junior Maria Tavares joined Petrei as one of the six singles players to make First Team All-Conference. Senior Lucia Badillos and freshman Laura Spataro were both selected Second Team All-Big Sky. Coach Akbar was also voted the Big Sky Women's Coach of the Year by his peers. 

Petrei, a native of Undine, Italy, went 9-0 this season at No. 1 singles, improving her career Big Sky record to 30-0. She finished 15-3 in dual play and has won her last nine matches entering the NCAA Tournament. Petrei, ranked 31st in the nation by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, became the first Vandal woman to earn a bid to the NCAA Singles Championships. Petrei picked up five wins over ranked opponents, including four in the fall. She won the ITA Mountain Regional and qualified for the main draw of the ITA National Fall Championships.

Tavares played a major role for the Vandals in 2018. She filled in for Petrei at No. 1 during a crucial stretch of the season. Tavares was also undefeated in conference play, going 11-0. She was 3-0 at the No. 1 position but recorded 11 of her 14 wins from the No. 2 position. Badillos totaled an 8-3 record in the Big Sky, playing mostly out of the No. 3 slot. Spataro shot on the scene this season, leading tying for the team lead with 15 wins. She posted a 10-1 conference finish and registered the third-best winning percentage in the conference at the No. 4 position (.706).

Petrei and Tavares also picked up First Team All-Conference honors in doubles. The pair finished 4-1 in Big Sky play and went 9-3 overall at No. 1. Badillos and Spataro played to a 5-1 record at No. 2, good for Honorable Mention.  

Akbar, in his second season at the helm at Idaho, led the Vandals to their fourth consecutive Big Sky title, upsetting No. 1 seeded Northern Arizona in the championship. Idaho went 15-6 this year including a 10-1 mark in conference play. He has put together a 20-2 conference record in his two seasons and has led the Vandals to the NCAA Tournament.  

The Vandals are currently preparing for their fifth straight trip to the NCAA Tournament. Idaho will take on No. 13 Pepperdine May 11, at 1 p.m. PT.