April 27, 2005

By Leila Wai
Honolulu Advertiser Staff Writer

Cleveland State sophomore Sarah Galon, a 2003 graduate of Leilehua from Wai'anae, was named the Horizon League Women's Tennis Player of the Year at the league championship banquet in Indianapolis on Friday.

"It was a surprise to me. My coach showed us the ballot before, and I saw my name was on the ballot, and the whole night I had a sore stomach," she said. "When my name was announced, all those emotions came boiling out."

Galon, the Newcomer of the Year last season, recorded a 6-1 record in both No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles in Horizon League play while notching a 17-12 singles mark and a 16-8 doubles record on the season.

"It's hard to back up, to get Player of the Year as a sophomore. I hope to have a great season again, and back it up with a great senior year," she said.

Galon and Morgan Ungerott defeated Jessica Lee and Tiffani Foster of Wright State, 8-5, at No. 1 doubles Saturday at the Horizon League Championships. Galon dropped her No. 1 singles match to Lee, 6-4, 7-6 (9).

"Even though we lost, we made all those little improvements along the way," she said. "We were all so happy as a team, because we met our team goal to improve in the conference."