ST. PAUL (May 2, 2008) – Four individuals from each of the Northwestern College’s men’s and women’s tennis teams were selected to their respective Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) All-Conference teams, the league announced Tuesday. Eagles head coach John Sanny was also chosen as the men’s tennis Coach of the Year.
Honoree John Barnes (Nashua, Iowa/Nashua-Plainfield), who played in Northwestern’s No. 1 singles position all season, finished 4-4 in conference matches this season. Barnes joined doubles partner and fellow All-Conference selection Jordan Isaacson (Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Christian) to go 4-4 against conference opponents in doubles matches this season. Isaacson was 6-2 in the No. 4 singles position this year.
The Eagles’ Nos. 2 and 3 singles players in Stephen Fread (Minneapolis, Minn./Osseo) and Jeremiah Schnek (Faribault, Minn./Faribault) were also chosen for All-Conference accolades. Fread was 5-3 in singles matches in 2008, while Schnek joined Isaacson for a team best in individual conference records at 6-2.
Switching genders, four of Northwestern’s women were also selected for All-Conference awards. Kayla Ross (New Hope, Minn./Cooper), who led the Eagles to their first-ever National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) National Tournament appearance this season in the No. 1 singles position, wrapped up her senior campaign at 5-3 in conference play.
Joining Ross was teammates Wendy Miller (Roseville, Minn./St. Joseph), Rebecca Leland (Bricelyn, Minn./United South Central) and Shelby Baker (Winona, Minn./Winona). Miller, who teamed with Ross in doubles play, was a perfect 6-0 in conference play in the No. 2 doubles position. Leland, who spent the majority of her singles matches in the No. 3 spot, went 6-2 in UMAC action while Baker was 7-1 in the Nos. 3 and 4 positions. Baker finished her conference season on a seven-match win streak.
St. Scholastica, who swept the UMAC’s regular season and postseason tournament, received nine individual All-Conference selections.