NSIC RELEASE

BURNSVILLE, Minn. — A record-setting season by the University of Mary tennis team was capped Thursday with the announcing of four Marauders on the 2014 Northern Sun Women's Tennis All-Conference Teams, including three athletes named in both singles and doubles. Hallie Welk, Sarah Janes, Catherine Gibbens and Kate O'Connell were all selected all-conference, with Welk, Janes and Gibbens receiving both singles and doubles recognition.
 
In addition to being named all-conference for her efforts in both singles and doubles, Bismarck, N.D. native Welk was named NSIC Senior of the Year.
 
Named All-NSIC First Team in singles in 2013, Welk repeats as a 1st team selection and after being named to the 2nd team in 2013, Janes was named All-NSIC First Team this season.
 
Moving up to the Marauders No. 1 singles position this season, Welk held a 13-3 mark overall at No. 1 singles, finished NSIC action 9-2 and ended her career with nine straight wins. Welk had four wins against opponents named All-NSIC, including two against 1st team selection Katie Kotschevear of St. Cloud State.
 
After losing three of her first four matches to start the season, Janes rattled of a 10-match winning streak heading into the conference championship as she finished the season 11-3 at No. 2 singles and held an 8-3 NSIC record. Three of the sophomore's 11 wins came against all-conference opponents.
 
Gibbens, a freshman, made an immediate impact for the Marauders. Playing 3rd singles for U-Mary, the rookie posted an 11-5 record, with a 7-4 mark in NSIC matches and was named All-NSIC Honorable Mention. Gibbens concluded her season winning four straight matches, including a pair of NSIC Tournament wins.
 
The Marauders No. 1 doubles team of Janes and Gibbens were named the All-NSIC First Team. Janes and Gibbens played all 17 of their doubles matches together, while posting a 9-8 record overall and an 8-3 mark in NSIC matches. Janes and Gibbens won six straight matches including two wins over all-conference opponents heading into the NSIC Tournament Semifinals.
 
Named All-NSIC Second Team, Welk and O'Connell held a 14-3 record, including a 10-1 mark in NSIC matches. The duo started the season with eight consecutive NSIC doubles wins, including handing Augustana College its only loss of the conference season at No. 2 doubles.
 
Janes, O'Connell and Welk were all named all conference in doubles last season.
 
Named NSIC Senior of the Year, Welk was a combined 28-7 and 19-3 in NSIC matches between singles and doubles competition this season. A transfer from North Dakota, Welk finished her career with a 25-5 record in singles competition and 26-6 mark in doubles play. Welk was 20-3 in NSIC matches in her career in both singles and doubles play.
 
U-Mary finished 2014 with a program record (since joining the NCAA in '06) 14 wins overall and a record 10 NSIC victories. The Marauders cracked the NCAA Central Region rankings for the first time in program history holding steady at No. 9 for three consecutive weeks. Having their first All-NSIC selections in program history in 2013, U-Mary has now notched four all-conference athletes for the second consecutive season.
 
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