SIOUX CITY, Iowa - The Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) office announced earlier today, May 13, the women's tennis All-Conference selections for 2022. Northwestern tallied five selections, one on the singles side and three additional players on the doubles side to tally five overall.

Head coach Jamie De Jong stated, "Four of our varsity tennis players were honored, and I couldn't be prouder. This team didn't go down without fighting. They maintained good integrity, support for one another and excellent sportsmanship, that's classy tennis. This just goes to show you that we played well, and other coaches noticed."

JULIA KUTZ - HONORABLE MENTION (SINGLES) 

Julia Kutz (Fr., Sheriday, Wyo.) garnered her first career All-Conference honor after a solid freshman campaign. Kutz played in the No. 1 singles spot all season for the Raiders, tallying five wins.

Coach De Jong added, "Kutz is one of the younger All-Conference players mentioned in the No. 1 singles position. She received Honorable Mention this season and considering her competition, it's a true honor to make the list. Kutz did a lot of growing this year. She never gave up, always kind, always played with good integrity and that's honorable. She's been a good leader, and we are so blessed she chose NWC."

WYNNE VANDERSALL & AINSLIE ROBINSON - ALL-CONFERENCE (DOUBLES)

Wynne Vandersall (Jr., Martelle, Iowa) and Ainslie Robinson (Fr., Luverne, Minn.) were named to the GPAC All-Conference doubles team. This is the second All-Conference honor for Vandersall and Robinson picks up her first in her freshman campaign. The duo picked up five wins as a pair, all in the No. 2 position for the Raiders. 

Coach De Jong commented on the doubles duo, "Vandersall and Robinson received All-Conference in the No. 2 doubles position. There are only 2 teams in the conference awarded this honor. It's evident that the GPAC was stacked with tough tennis competition. Wynne and Ainslie worked well together and played solid tennis this season."

JULIA KUTZ & JULIA ANDERSON - HONORABLE MENTION (DOUBLES)

Kutz and Julia Anderson (Fr., Rapid City, S.D.) finished up their respective freshmen campaigns with four wins as a doubles team. With this selection, Kutz tallies her second All-Conference honor, both in her freshman year, and Anderson earns her first.

Coach De Jong added, "Julia Kutz and Julia Anderson, both freshmen, were the youngest of any All-Conference players mentioned for honors in the No. 1 doubles position. They received Honorable Mention this season and considering the competition, it's a big honor to make this short list."

UNDER DE JONG...

With four players selected this season, Coach De Jong has now coached seven All-Conference selections in her time leading the Northwestern women's tennis program. The four women selected this season are the most in a single season in De Jong's tenure. She had two in 2019, none in 2020 due to COVID-19, one in 2021, and four this season.