April 22, 2005

Indianapolis, Ind.- With the standard of success the University of Illinois at Chicago women's tennis team has set for the past nine seasons, it is no surprise that the Flames continued to be a huge presence at the annual Horizon League Tennis Awards.

Juniors Iris Jaklin (Fischbach, Austria/BORG-Birkfield), Corey Steven (Wichita, Kan./Kapaun Mt. Carmel), Molly Smith (Leawood, Kan./Notre Dame de Sion) and Melanie Humphrey (Harpenden Herts, England/Millfield) were named to the All-Horizon League Team, while freshman Grace Gill-Morlis (Lima, Peru/Villa Maria) was named the Horizon League Newcomer of the Year.

For the second time in her four-year tenure as head coach at UIC, Shannon Tully earned Horizon League Coach of the Year accolades. Tully, who also won the award in 2003, shared the award with Youngstown State's Michele Grim.

Jaklin, the team's No. 1 singles player this season, was named to the All-Horizon League First Team for the first time in her career after picking up 14 victories in the top spot and going 5-2 in Horizon League play. Last season Jaklin was named to the league's second team.

This season marks the third straight All-Horizon League honor for Steven, who made the league first team in 2003 and earned second team honors in 2004. A first team selection this season, Steven went a perfect 7-0 against conference foes and maintained her flawless Horizon League career singles record at 24-0.

Smith won the second All-Horizon League Second Team honor in her three-year career. Smith posted an 11-9 dual match record and a 5-2 league mark while posting a perfect 7-0 doubles record in league play.

Humphrey was named to the All-Horizon League Second Team, the first all-league honor of her career. The junior went 6-0 in league singles and 7-0 in league doubles, teaming with Jaklin at the No. 1 doubles slot to go 16-16 overall.

Gill-Morlis was a force in her first season. The Peru native went 14-6 in dual match singles and played her way to an unblemished 7-0 league singles record. Gill-Morlis becomes the third player in the last four seasons to win the award, joining Britta Dohman (2002) and Steven (2003).

Tully was honored for another outstanding season. The fourth-year head coach led the Flames to their fourth straight No. 1 seed in the Horizon League Women's Tennis Championship tournament, helping them produce big moments during a tough non-conference schedule to go 10-10, and coaching the team to a 7-0 league record that moved the Flames' all-time league mark under Tully to 36-0.

Tully is now 60-36 overall in her four seasons at the helm.

Under Tully, the Flames have featured 16 players on the All-Horizon League Team, the maximum any team can have in a four-year span.

The awards were determined through the voting of Horizon League head coaches.

The top-seeded Flames face No. 8 UW-Milwaukee in the opening round of the 2005 Horizon League Women's Tennis Championship tournament on Saturday at 9 a.m. at North Central High in Indianapolis, Ind.

2005 Horizon League Women's Tennis Awards
2005 All-Horizon League First TeamAlaina Griffin, Butler, JRTayo Bailey, Butler, JRSarah Galon, Cleveland State, SOIris Jaklin, UIC, JRCorey Steven, UIC, JRKaren Najbert, Youngstown State, SR
2005 All-Horizon League Second TeamMichelle Hawes, Butler, FRShaden Dowiatt, Butler, SOMolly Smith, UIC, JRMelanie Humphrey, UIC, JRHeather Harding, UW-Green Bay, SOTiffani Foster, Wright State, SOWhitney Thomas, Youngstown State, JR
2005 Horizon League Player of the Year: Sarah Galon, Cleveland State, SO
2005 Horizon League Newcomer of the Year: Grace Gill-Morlis, UIC, FR
2005 Horizon League Coaches of the Year: Shannon Tully, UIC; Michele Grim, Youngstown State