Long Beach State's Hannah Grady was named Big West Women's Tennis Player and Freshman of the Year to headline the release of the 2006 all-conference team. In addition, 49er head coach Jenny Hilt-Costello was recognized as Big West Coach of the Year for the third consecutive season.

Grady, a native of Coventry, England, became the first Long Beach State player since Anastasia Dvornikova in 2001 to earn the conference's top individual honor. She had a tremendous spring season, winning 17 of her last 18 matches, including victories in all three Big West Tournament matches last weekend. Her victory over UC Irvine's Becky Bernhard clinched the tournament championship for the 49ers. Grady, ranked No. 68 in the nation this week, owns an 18-5 overall record at the No. 1 singles position. A four-time Big West Athlete of the Week this season, Grady has helped the 49er team to a national ranking as high as No. 18 and a current ranking of No. 27. In addition, she teamed with Jessica Weeks to form one of the top doubles teams in the nation. The duo is 16-1 this spring and is ranked No. 42 nationally.

Hilt-Costello is the third coach in Big West history to earn the top honor three straight seasons. She has earned the honor four times in her career, achieving it the first time in 2001. She led the 49ers to the Big West regular season title and the Big West Tournament championship for the third straight year and for the fourth time in the last five seasons. Hilt-Costello's troops defeated UC Riverside, Cal State Northridge and UC Irvine en route to the tournament title last week at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. The 49ers are making their fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in Hilt-Costello's nine seasons at the helm. The team enters the postseason with a 21-4 record, and needs one win to tie the program record for most wins in a season and two to break it. Hilt-Costello is 137-80 in her career with the 49ers.

The following is a complete listing of the 2006 Big West All-Conference Team: