May 1, 2006
Cleveland, OH -- Regardless of how the Northern Illinois University women's tennis team may have struggled at times due to being shorthanded with its line-up, the coaches in the Mid-American Conference certainly recognized the Huskies weren't short on talent at the top of that line-up.
Freshman Jenny Edner (Stocksund, Sweden / Kramfors Tennis Gymnasiet) was chosen by the league coaches as a Second-Team All-Mid-American Conference honoree. The league's all-conference selections were announced in conjunction with the MAC Women's Tennis Championship, which was ultimately won by Western Michigan University. The Broncos ended NIU's season (5-19) one day after the No. 9-seeded Huskies ended a 12-match skid by opening the Mid-Am event with an "upset" of No. 8 University of Akron.
"It's certainly nice recognition for her, especially since it comes from the league's other coaches," NIU coach Pontus Hiort said. "They recognize her competitive nature and the fact that she put up a good year individually, even though we had some limitations as a team. They certainly respected her hard work on the court and I'm glad she'll be a part of our program for the next three seasons."
As a mid-year roster addition, Edner debuted with the Huskies in the No. 2 singles position for the season's fist five matches, but then took over the No. 1 spot for the remainder of the spring. She compiled a 10-14 ledger in singles to go along with a 5-18 record in doubles competition with four different partners.
In addition to being Northern Illinois' lone honoree, Edner was the only freshman to earn all-conference status as the First-Team featured a senior, four juniors and one sophomore. The second-team included a senior, two juniors and two sophomores.
Western Michigan senior Malena Remynse -- the MAC Player of the Year -- headlined the First-Team All-MAC squad which also included WMU junior Carrie Jeanmarie, the University at Buffalo's junior Miglena Nenova and sophomore Andreea Novaceanu; Miami (OH) University junior Katrina Lomidze, plus Ball State University junior Jessica Thmpson.
WMU senior Reedhina Parekh and Edner were on the Second-Team All-MAC unit which also included Miami sophomore Leda Pesalova, Bowling Green State University junior Ashley Jakupcin, plus the University of Toledo's senior Eunice Paravicin and junior Myriam Cueva. Western Michigan's Kerstin Pahl earned MAC Freshman of the Year honors while Buffalo's Kathy Twist was the MAC Coach of the Year and the University of Akron's Tanya Gombera won the Mid-Am's Leann Grimes Davidge Sportsmanship Award.
(For further information, please contact Steve Nemeth) --NIU--
