Gustavus Adolphus first-year standout Karina Elvestrom was named MIAC Rookie of the Year and, alongside junior Kaya De Bruijn, earned MIAC Doubles Team of the Year honors, headlining a dominant award showing for the Gusties on Tuesday. Head coach Jon Carlson ’88 collected his 11th Coach of the Year award, while four players earned seven All-MIAC honors as the 2024–25 MIAC Women’s Tennis Awards were announced.
Elvestrom, who played at No. 1 singles and doubles all season, went 5-2 in conference singles and an undefeated 9-0 in doubles with De Bruijn. The duo compiled a 23-7 overall doubles record, climbing as high as No. 12 in the national rankings and closing the regular season at No. 24. Elvestrom, already a two-time All-American, finished 19-12 in singles and held a national singles ranking of No. 14 for much of the year.
De Bruijn also posted a dominant 7-1 MIAC singles record—7-0 at No. 2—dropping only to nationally ranked Kelsey Dorr at No. 1. She went 19-8 overall in singles and 17-7 in dual matches, clinching key MIAC playoff and regular-season wins over Carleton.
Junior Molly Austin was also named All-MIAC in singles after an undefeated conference run at No. 3. She never lost a set in MIAC play and surrendered no more than four games in any match. In doubles, Austin and junior Allison Szalay earned All-Conference honors. After starting the season together at No. 2, they later split into successful pairings: Austin with first-year Lanie Davis (11-1 overall) and Szalay with sophomore Ella De Young (7-1).
Davis and senior Brooke Haddorff were both recognized with Honorable Mention in singles and doubles. Davis went 17-4 overall in singles, 5-1 in conference, and hasn’t lost a doubles match with Austin since March 9. Haddorff, 14-4 in singles, paired with Pavla Yakimova for a perfect 5-0 conference doubles record. Yakimova, who played with five different partners throughout the season, also earned honorable mention in doubles.
First-year Noor Omar (17-8 overall) joined Davis and Haddorff with Honorable Mention singles honors, compiling a 6-1 MIAC record, primarily at No. 5.
Austin, Davis, and De Bruijn were named to the MIAC All-Playoff Team for their clutch performances in the tournament. Davis secured a vital three-set win in the championship match to tie the score, setting up De Bruijn for a dramatic comeback victory at No. 2 to clinch the Gusties’ first NCAA Tournament berth since 2018.
Carlson’s Coach of the Year award caps a milestone season. Already the all-time winningest coach in NCAA Division III women’s tennis history, he surpassed 700 career wins this spring. Carlson now ranks third among active NCAA women’s coaches in total victories across all divisions and sixth all-time. His MIAC coaching legacy includes 50 regular-season championships—25 with the women’s tennis program—and 23 MIAC Coach of the Year awards across three sports.
The Gusties (26-7, 10-0 MIAC), who swept the regular season and playoff titles, open NCAA Tournament play Friday, May 9, in Chicago after earning a first-round bye. They’ll face either No. 35 Hope (Mich.) or UW-Superior for a spot in Saturday’s regional final. Gustavus defeated both earlier this season—7-0 over Superior and 5-2 over Hope.
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