MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE ANNOUNCES WOMEN’S TENNIS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
MAC Women’s Tennis Player of the Week
Nelle Youel, Northern Illinois – Sophomore, Crystal Lake, Ill. (Crystal Lake Central High School)
Northern Illinois sophomore Nelle Youel led the Huskies at No. 1 doubles and No. 1 singles with six wins in the opening weekend of the spring schedule to give sixth-year Head Coach Ryun Ferrell his first 3-0 start to a season. In Northern Illinois 6-1 win at home over Bradley on Friday, Youel teamed with Arantza De La Torre for an 8-4 win over Adele Henke and Corey Mattson. She then dominated her singles match with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Henke. On Saturday, Youel did not drop one set all day in two matches. In a 7-0 win against Valparaiso, she and De La Torre cruised past Kristin Zakiewicz and Michele Fredlake 8-0. Youel followed with an impressive 6-0, 6-0 triumph over Zakiewicz. In a 7-0 win over Western Illinois, Youel and De La Torre again scored an 8-0 doubles win, this time over Yessenia Mejia and Ese Davis. Youel ended her weekend with a flawless 6-0, 6-0 decision over Mejia.
Additional Nominees:
Courtney Earnest, Ball State – Freshman, Lexington, Ohio (Lexington High School)
Ball State freshman Courtney Earnest went 2-0 at No. 3 singles over the weekend after earning straight set victories over Chelsea Bailey of UW-Milwaukee (6-2, 6-1) and Michigan State's Olga Chernova (6-2, 6-2). Earnest now leads the Cardinals in wins as she has an unblemished overall singles record of 3-0. Earnest helped the Cardinals defeat the Panthers 5-2 and she was the lone win in Ball State's 6-1 loss at Michigan State.
Emily Reuland, Bowling Green – Junior, Oswego, Ill. (Rosary High School)
Bowling Green junior Emily Reuland was a perfect 4-0 as Bowling Green won a pair of matches over the weekend. Reuland won matches at the top singles and top doubles flights as the Falcons posted a 6-1 win over Drake and a 7-0 victory over Chicago State. In Saturday’s Drake match, Reuland teamed with classmate Nikki Chiricosta for an 8-2 doubles win, then downed the Bulldogs’ Nell Boyd at the top singles flight. The next morning vs. Chicago State, Reuland and senior Maddy Eccleston posted an 8-3 doubles win, and the junior then topped Karyn Emeralda in straight sets. On the season, Reuland has an overall record of 28-12, ranking her second on the team in wins. Her 13-5 singles record ties her for the Falcons lead, and she has the second-best doubles mark on the squad, with a 15-7 record. Just a junior, she already ranks 20th in school history in career singles wins, with 61. Reuland is 23rd all-time at the school with 56 doubles victories, and her career total of 117 combined wins ties her for 21st at Bowling Green. The Falcons are 3-1 this season and have won three consecutive matches after a season-opening loss on the road against No. 19 Notre Dame.
Miranda Podlas, Buffalo – Junior, Williamsville, N.Y.
Buffalo junior Miranda Podlas helped lead the Bulls to a 4-3 victory over Pittsburgh in the Spring opener. Playing at second singles for the first time in her career, Podlas had no problem dispatching her opponent as she won easily, 6-1, 6-1. While playing at first doubles with teammate Tanvi Shah, the Buffalo duo defeated Pittsburgh's Jocelyn Lu and Taylor Washington, which was their first loss of the season in 10 matches. Podlas is now 6-1 on the year in singles and doubles to lead the team in both categories.
Klara Supejova, Eastern Michigan – Freshman, Prague, Czech Republic
Eastern Michigan freshman Klara Supejova helped Eastern Michigan to a 1-1 team record while going 3-1 individually this week. Eastern Michigan opened up the week with a 4-3 loss at Michigan State, Jan. 22. In the match with Michigan State, Supejova was 2-0 after defeating the Spartans' Catherine Parenteau in three sets (2-6, 6-2, 6-4) at No. 2 singles, and teaming up with Nino Mebuke at No.1 doubles to top Marina Bohrer and Parenteau, 8-5. The Eagles next won their match against IPFW, 5-2. The Prague, Czech Republic native posted a win at No. 2 singles when she dropped just two games against Kristine Lindal in two sets (6-2, 6-0). Her only loss of the week came at No. 1 doubles when she and Mebuke teamed-up and fell to Anita Henestrosa and Caterina Kiefer, 8-7.
Maggie Remynse, Western Michigan – Senior, Richland, Mich. (Battle Creek Lakeview High School)
Western Michigan senior Maggie Remynse was essential in the Broncos' victory over Butler on Saturday, teaming with Kelsey King to earn a win in the No. 3 doubles match, and also going on to pick up her fifth straight singles win with a victory in the No. 4 singles match. Remynse and King earned an 8-0 win over Laura Shull and Sienna Reuter in the No. 3 doubles match, part of an effort in which the Broncos swept Butler in doubles play. Remynse was dominant in singles play against Konstantina Adami in No. 4 singles match, winning 6-2, 6-2.