SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – North Dakota women's tennis saw four members of its team honored by the conference with two Fighting Hawks named to the All-Summit League Team and two more named All-Summit League Honorable Mention, officials announced on Thursday.
Ethel Li and
Emma Roberts represented UND on the All-Summit League Team following stellar senior and freshman seasons, respectively.
Li was an all-around steady presence for the Hawks in both singles and doubles play. She tallied a 9-12 overall record in one-on-one competition, all from the No. 1 court, and notched a 2-4 record in conference action. The senior registered two Women's Singles Peak Performer of the Week honors in addition to her marquee four Women's Doubles Peak Performer of the Week honors for her pairing with
Jule Schulte. Her doubles record culminated at 15-4 overall and 4-1 in conference competition, including a big doubles win against Denver.
Roberts earned the automatic conference recognition for having the best record across the Summit League in her respective position at the No. 6 spot. The New Zealand-native dominated in her first season as a Fighting Hawk, accumulating a stunning 13-5 record during the season with a 5-1 conference showing in appearances at the No. 4, 5, and 6 courts. She remained undefeated in her five singles matches at the fourth and fifth positions and saw an overall doubles record of 10-4—all from the bottom court—with a 2-2 conference result.
North Dakota's accolades spilled into the All-Summit League Honorable Mention list with
Alyssa Giupponi and
Jule Schulte tallying their own honors.
Giupponi found success on both sides of competition for the Fighting Hawks as she collected a total of 11 singles wins during the season, including four off of conference competition alone. She split her singles action between the fourth and fifth courts and registered several fast-paced, two-set wins in dominating fashion. The sophomore from Switzerland also appeared at both the No. 2 and 3 spots in doubles play, collecting eight total wins during the season.
With the winningest career in the history of North Dakota women's tennis,
Jule Schulte currently holds 143 career wins and now, an all-conference recognition. She earned 11 of those wins during singles play alone this season, highlighted by one strong victory from the No. 1 spot while the remainder came from the No. 2 spot. Her doubles pairing with Li made conference headlines as the duo secured four weekly conference honors and went 14-4 as a pair during the season with four conference wins.
Post-season competition will start in high fashion for the Fighting Hawks as No. 3 North Dakota faces No. 2 Omaha in the semifinals of the Summit League Women's Tennis Championship at 12 p.m. on Friday in Tulsa.
Women's Coach of the Year
Paul Wardlaw, Denver
Women's Newcomer of the Year
Yunfei Cai, Denver
Women's Player of the Year
Louise Wikander, Denver
Women's All-Summit League Team
Zoe Adkins, Denver
Selena Bird, South Dakota
Khayli Buckels, Omaha
Yunfei Cai, Denver
Natalie Cinkova, Denver
Katelynn Kock, Omaha
Emilia Korseth, St. Thomas
Marley Lambert, Denver
Ethel Li, North Dakota
Caroline Lindahl, St. Thomas
Emma Roberts, North Dakota
Louise Wikander, Denver
Women's All-Summit League Honorable Mention
Nina Wiese, Omaha
Claudia Martinez de Velasco, Denver
Alisa Reznik, Kansas City
Jule Schulte, North Dakota
Alyssa Giupponi, North Dakota
Shelby Smith, Omaha
For updates and more information on North Dakota tennis, follow on social media @UNDwtennis or visit FightingHawks.com.
