Bucknell University Athletics
Women's Tennis Welcomes Two Incoming First Years
4/28/2022 12:45:00 PM | Women's Tennis
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Head Bucknell women's tennis coach Tammy Cecchini announced that two newcomers will join her team in 2022-23.
The Bison's incoming first years are Mirra Manolov and Abby Platt. They will join a team that is coming off a 12-10 (3-3 PL) campaign that saw Whitney King and Anna Lajos each post a singles winning percentage north of .700 as rookies.
Next season, Bucknell will return all but one player from its 2021-22 starting lineup. The Bison will need to replace 2022 graduate Daniela Bellini, who played first singles all four of her years in Lewisburg. Bellini, a two-time All-Patriot League selection, won 50 career singles matches, good for 16th in school history, and 55 career doubles matches, good for 11th in the Bucknell annals. With 105 career combined victories, she became the 17th Bison to eclipse the century mark. Notably, she won Bucknell's John F. Zeller Award, which is presented for outstanding contributions to Bison Athletics, while exemplifying the best of Bucknell in the manner that John Zeller did in his 68 years of service to the University.
Mirra Manolov
Columbia, Mo., Hickman
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Before Bucknell: Recognized as the 2020 Missouri Junior 18s Player of the Year … consistently ranked as a three-star recruit … lettered in tennis at Hickman High School … earned the team's MVP award each year in the program … placed second at sectionals each season … posted a 49-3 record in career regular-season matches … twice served as team captain. Â
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Personal: Mirra Katherine Manolov … born September 25, 2003 in Columbia, Missouri … daughter of Roumen Manolov and Kaye Gray-Manolov … has a younger sibling: Mena … father is from Bulgaria … coaches at a local country club and teaches private lessons … plans to major in either economics or environmental studies.
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Coach Cecchini's Scouting Report: "Mirra is a very athletic player with an explosive forehand. Her serve is a strength. She attacks when she's inside the baseline and likes to finish off the point at the net. She has great potential, and I can't wait to watch her grow."
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Why Manolov Chose Bucknell: "I loved the balance of academics and athletics. I loved the location, the range of majors and the people. I'm really excited to play tennis for them next year."
Abby Platt
Dallas, Texas, Greenhill School
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Before Bucknell: Lettered four times in tennis at the Greenhill School … made the all-league and all-conference teams … named the team's MVP as a freshman and junior … served as team captain as a senior … helped Greenhill go undefeated as a senior and junior and win all but one match as a freshman … key piece of its 2021 conference runner-up team … on the USTA Junior circuit, was the L4 Match Pointe Open 18s doubles champion and took third at 18s singles, was the DTA Winter SCMZ 16s singles and doubles champion and was the Texas Slam 16s doubles champion … in singles, also finished third at L3 San Antonio in the 16s division … in doubles, took third at L2 Oklahoma City in the 18s division … also was an 18s finalist at Texas Slam, a 16s finalist at L3 San Antonio, a 16s quarterfinalist at L1 Winter Nationals, a 14s quarterfinalist at L1 Easter Bowl and a 14s quarterfinalist at L1 Winter Nationals.
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Personal: Abigail Helen Platt … born July 14, 2004 in Dallas, Texas … daughter of Mark and Alice Platt … has an older brother: Max … owns and operates a custom cake business … will study in the Freeman College of Management.
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Coach Cecchini's Scouting Report: "Abby is a strong all-court player. She is solid from the baseline, has great hands at the net and moves well around the court. All throughout juniors, she competed at the national tournaments. I'm excited to see what she will do at the collegiate level."
Why Platt Chose Bucknell: "It had the perfect balance of everything I was looking for in a school, including the beautiful campus, the strong academics, the tight-knit community, the girls on the tennis team and, of course, Coach Cecchini, who made me feel more than welcome. IÂ can't wait for next fall."
The Bison's incoming first years are Mirra Manolov and Abby Platt. They will join a team that is coming off a 12-10 (3-3 PL) campaign that saw Whitney King and Anna Lajos each post a singles winning percentage north of .700 as rookies.
Next season, Bucknell will return all but one player from its 2021-22 starting lineup. The Bison will need to replace 2022 graduate Daniela Bellini, who played first singles all four of her years in Lewisburg. Bellini, a two-time All-Patriot League selection, won 50 career singles matches, good for 16th in school history, and 55 career doubles matches, good for 11th in the Bucknell annals. With 105 career combined victories, she became the 17th Bison to eclipse the century mark. Notably, she won Bucknell's John F. Zeller Award, which is presented for outstanding contributions to Bison Athletics, while exemplifying the best of Bucknell in the manner that John Zeller did in his 68 years of service to the University.
Mirra Manolov
Columbia, Mo., Hickman
Â
Before Bucknell: Recognized as the 2020 Missouri Junior 18s Player of the Year … consistently ranked as a three-star recruit … lettered in tennis at Hickman High School … earned the team's MVP award each year in the program … placed second at sectionals each season … posted a 49-3 record in career regular-season matches … twice served as team captain. Â
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Personal: Mirra Katherine Manolov … born September 25, 2003 in Columbia, Missouri … daughter of Roumen Manolov and Kaye Gray-Manolov … has a younger sibling: Mena … father is from Bulgaria … coaches at a local country club and teaches private lessons … plans to major in either economics or environmental studies.
Â
Coach Cecchini's Scouting Report: "Mirra is a very athletic player with an explosive forehand. Her serve is a strength. She attacks when she's inside the baseline and likes to finish off the point at the net. She has great potential, and I can't wait to watch her grow."
Â
Why Manolov Chose Bucknell: "I loved the balance of academics and athletics. I loved the location, the range of majors and the people. I'm really excited to play tennis for them next year."
We're so excited to welcome Mirra Manolov to our #BisonFamily!
— Bucknell Women's Tennis (@Bucknell_WTEN) April 28, 2022
🔶#rayBucknell🔷 pic.twitter.com/04Ii7ACwEf
Abby Platt
Dallas, Texas, Greenhill School
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Before Bucknell: Lettered four times in tennis at the Greenhill School … made the all-league and all-conference teams … named the team's MVP as a freshman and junior … served as team captain as a senior … helped Greenhill go undefeated as a senior and junior and win all but one match as a freshman … key piece of its 2021 conference runner-up team … on the USTA Junior circuit, was the L4 Match Pointe Open 18s doubles champion and took third at 18s singles, was the DTA Winter SCMZ 16s singles and doubles champion and was the Texas Slam 16s doubles champion … in singles, also finished third at L3 San Antonio in the 16s division … in doubles, took third at L2 Oklahoma City in the 18s division … also was an 18s finalist at Texas Slam, a 16s finalist at L3 San Antonio, a 16s quarterfinalist at L1 Winter Nationals, a 14s quarterfinalist at L1 Easter Bowl and a 14s quarterfinalist at L1 Winter Nationals.
Â
Personal: Abigail Helen Platt … born July 14, 2004 in Dallas, Texas … daughter of Mark and Alice Platt … has an older brother: Max … owns and operates a custom cake business … will study in the Freeman College of Management.
Â
Coach Cecchini's Scouting Report: "Abby is a strong all-court player. She is solid from the baseline, has great hands at the net and moves well around the court. All throughout juniors, she competed at the national tournaments. I'm excited to see what she will do at the collegiate level."
Why Platt Chose Bucknell: "It had the perfect balance of everything I was looking for in a school, including the beautiful campus, the strong academics, the tight-knit community, the girls on the tennis team and, of course, Coach Cecchini, who made me feel more than welcome. IÂ can't wait for next fall."
We're so excited to welcome Abby Platt to our #BisonFamily!
— Bucknell Women's Tennis (@Bucknell_WTEN) April 28, 2022
🔶#rayBucknell🔷 pic.twitter.com/VURgQDv7l7
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