April 30, 2000

Indianapolis, Ind. - University of Illinois at Chicago's Jacki Farr was honored as the 2000 Midwestern Collegiate Conference Women's Tennis Player of the Year it was announced earlier this afternoon. Farr, along with teammates Emina Curic and Zvjezdana Malesevic , also earned a spot on the All-MCC team.

Making the jump from the No. 4 to the No. 1 singles slot this season, Farr finished the regular season with a 15-20 overall record, and a perfect 3-0 slate in league play. She also tabbed a 15-18 doubles record this year. Farr, who was also named to the All-MCC team for the third-straight year, was the MCC Player of the Week on two occasions this season - March 1 and March 27.

All-MCC recognition is nothing new for Curic. The senior is now a four-time recipient of the award. With her 17 singles wins during the regular season, Curic became UIC's all-time leader with 82 career singles victories. She also is currently second all-time in doubles wins with 78. She owned a singles slate of 17-17 and a doubles mark of 15-18. Curic was named MCC Player of the Week on April 5.

Zvjezdana joined her sister Zorica in the Flames' lineup at the semester break and went on to be UIC's only singles competitor to finish the regular season with an above .500 singles record (12-5). Zvjezdana was named MCC Player of the Week on February 23. She was 4-0 in MCC play prior to the tournament, tallying three singles and one doubles win.

The Flames, who claimed their fourth-straight MCC title on Sunday afternoon, will learn their opening-round site and opponent for the 2000 NCAA Division I Women's Tennis Champion on Thursday, May 4, at 2:30 p.m. CDT.

2000 MCC HONOREES

2000 Women's Tennis MCC Player of the Year: Jackie Farr (UIC)

2000 Women's Tennis MCC Newcomer of the Year: Lianne Dorn (UW-Green Bay)

2000 Women's Tennis MCC Coach of the Year: Herb Foster (Wright State)

2000 Women's Tennis MCC All-Conference Team:

Pamela Rodriguez, Sr., Butler

Olivia Pedro, So., Butler

Molly Figel, So., Butler

Maria Pandele, Jr., Detroit

Emina Curic, Sr., UIC

Jacki Farr, Jr., UIC

Zvjezdana Malesevic, Fr., UIC

Lianna Dorn, Fr., UW-Green Bay

DeeAnn Yunk, Sr., UW-Green Bay

Holly Wendorff, Fr., UW-Green Bay

Melissa Dunham-Freer, So., Wright State

Gloria Montero, So., Wright State