May 4, 2009

ST PAUL, Minn. -- Two members of the Bemidji State University tennis team have been named All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference today in an announcement by the league. BSU senior Kali Welu (Pequot Lakes, Minn.) was selected Second-Team All-NSIC, while freshman Nicole Christiansen (Bemidji, Minn.) got an Honorable mention nod in a poll of the league's coaches.

Welu, Bemidji State No. 1 singles player, posted a 6-11 overall record in 2009 and was a regular on the Beavers' No. 1 doubles squad. Last weekend the senior earned an opening-round win over University of Mary's Brianna Thomas, 6-2, 6-2 in the NSIC Tournament before she was knocked out of the event by Minnesota State's Marina Bugaenco, 6-0, 6-0. Bugaenco would not only go on to claim the No. 1 singles crown, she was also selected as the NSIC Player of the Year.

BSU's No. 2 singles player also garnered All-NSIC honors. Christiansen, who owns an 11-5 record this season in singles play, was named Honorable Mention All-NSIC.

In addition to MSU's Bugaenco being named Player of the Year, the NSIC also announced Ananda Ferrari of Southwest Minnesota State and Kayla Huether of MSU Moorhead as its Senior and Freshman of the Year, respectively, while St. Cloud State University's Jerry Anderson was named Coach of the Year after leading the Huskies to an NSIC Championship and a berth into the NCAA Division II Tournament.

Under the direction of first-year head coach Toby Palmiscno, the Beavers posted a 4-14 overall record and were 4-7 in NSIC play. Bemidji State is tentatively scheduled to begin its fall, non-championship season with a trip to Upper Iowa, Sept. 12-13.

2009 All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
Singles
First -Team
Brittney Gaster, So., Augustana, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Marina Bugaenco, Sr., Minnesota State, Chisinau, Moldova
Ananda Ferrari, Sr., Southwest Minnesota State, Campinas, Brazil
Jacquelyn Doll, Jr., St. Cloud State, Staples, Minn.
Kasey Huisman, Jr., Upper Iowa, Aplington, Iowa
Heather Pierce, So., Winona State, North Aurora, Ill.

Second-Team
Kali Welu, Sr., Bemidji State, Pequot Lakes, Minn.
Rose Phippe,n So., Minnesota Duluth, Stillwater, Minn.
Kayla Huether, Fr,. MSU Moorhead, Brainerd, Minn.
Kathryn Neubauer, Fr., MSU Moorhead, Mandan, N.D.
Kelly Freese, Jr., St. Cloud State, St. Cloud, Minn.
Dawn Olsen, Jr., St. Cloud State, Rosemount, Minn.
Holly Peltier, Sr., Winona State, White Bear Lake, Minn.

Honorable Mention
Nicole Christiansen, Fr., Bemidji State, Bemidji, Minn.
Carrie Dahlman, So., Minnesota Duluth, Wahpeton, N.D.
Sarah Madigan, So., Minnesota State, Inver Grove Heights, Minn.
Danielle Hildebrandt, Jr., Southwest Minnesota State, St. James, Minn.
Kayla Lenz So., St. Cloud State, Pequot Lakes, Minn.
Mallery Cox, Jr., Upper Iowa, Anchorage, Alaska
Mary Hesterman, Jr., Winona State, West Chicago, Ill.

Doubles
First- Team
Marina Bugaenco / Sarah Madigan, Minnesota State
Jacquelyn Doll / Kelly Freese, St. Cloud State
Heather Pierce / Mary Hesterman, Winona State

Second-Team
Ananda Ferrari/Toni Pribyl, Southwest Minnesota State
Dawn Olsen / Kristie Eul,l St. Cloud State
Kasey Huisman / Mallery Cox, Upper Iowa

Honorable Mention
Emily Johnson / Danielle Gilbert, Augustana
Carrie Dahlman / Steph Keller, Minnesota Duluth
Kayla Huether / Kathryn Neubauer, MSU Moorhead

--bsu--