WASHINGTON -

The Georgetown University men and women's tennis teams hosted their annual end of season banquet this past weekend to celebrate the 2015-16 season and announce team award winners. Head Coach Gordie Ernst presented the top honors.

Victoire Saperstein (Las Vegas, Nev./Odyssey Charter School) was named the Most Valuable Player for the third-consecutive year. Representing the Hoyas at the No.1 singles spot, the junior registered a 9-5 singles record in the 2016 spring season. Throughout the spring campaign, Saperstein saw wins against Penn's top singles player, Ria Vadya, to clinch a 4-3 victory for the Hoyas. The veteran defeated No. 39 William & Mary's Elizaveta Nemchinov and Loyola Marymount's (LMU) Jessica Perez at the top flight. She also posted an 11-4 doubles record at the No. 1 spot.

"It is certainly unprecedented to have a player win three MVPs in a row," Ernst said. "Victoire won over 25 singles and doubles matches this year against opposing teams' best players. She works harder and harder every year and was an outstanding leader of a team that improved more through the year more than any I've ever coached."

Freshman Risa Nakagawa (Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif./Palos Verdes Peninsula) received the Coaches Award for her breakout rookie season and dedication to the program. Primarily playing at the No.2 slot, Nakagawa posted a 13-3 singles record this spring while going 11-4 in doubles action at the No. 1 spot. The newcomer saw victories against St. John's, LMU, UC Irvine, Seton Hall, Richmond and George Washington while also capturing six of her last seven singles matches.

"Any team would be lucky to start every recruiting season with a girl like Risa," Ernst said. "Her incredibly positive attitude and disposition coupled with her tireless work ethic made all players around her better. Her smile even in the tensest of moments has already become legendary."

The Georgetown women's team concluded the season 13-5 overall and posted win streaks of two, five and six. The 13-5 campaign boasts the most wins since 2013 when the Hoyas captured 15 wins.

On the men's side, freshman Michael Chen (Holmdel, N.J./Holmdel High School) was named as the Most Valuable Player while junior Yannik Mahlangu (Henderson, Nev./Green Valley High School) was honored with the Coaches Award.

Chen led the Blue & Gray with an 11-4 singles record including five wins at the No.3 spot. Overall, Chen saw action at the Nos.1,3, 4 and 5 flights. His success was highlighted with victories against Navy, DePaul, UC Irvine and Richmond. In doubles play, the newcomer registered a 9-6 record at the No.1 spot, with triumphs against DePaul, Xavier, Virginia Commonwealth, Villanova, Navy, George Mason and Monmouth.

"No one competed harder and showed more spirit than Michael this season," Ernst said. "He beat many good players this year and steadily improved along the way. Billy Joel sang a song" We didn't start the fire" he is right, Mike Chen did before every match."

Receiving the Coaches Award, Mahlangu went 6-3 in singles play while going 8-7 in doubles play. The junior was also honored as the BIG EAST Tennis Athlete of the Week when he led the Georgetown University men's tennis squad to its first BIG EAST triumph of the season in a competitive 4-3 match against Xavier. The match came down to the No. 5 spot, pitting Mahlangu against Xavier's Brian Carman. Mahlangu clinched the final point and victory for the Hoyas in two sets, 6-4, 6-2.

"Yannik has dealt with adversity in the most positive ways," Ernst said. "He has shown solid character and helped the Hoyas beat two teams, Bryant and Monmouth, who are both competing in the NCAA tournament this week. I am so proud of him."

Overall, the Hoyas finished 9-9 on the season.