Arnold Named "MVP" for IWU Women's Tennis

11 November 2004

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Senior Diane Arnold has been chosen as the “Most Valuable Player” for the 2004 Illinois Wesleyan University women’s tennis team.

Arnold, a Bloomington High School product, was 13-3 at No. 3 singles, where she finished second at the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin tournament. She also teamed with junior Kristina Sawyer (Batavia HS) for a 9-7 record at No. 2 doubles.

Arnold finished her career with a 51-23 singles record, which makes her No. 5 all-time at the school in singles victories.

In other team honors, junior Jane Szafraniec (Mt. Prospect, Rolling Meadows HS) was named the team’s “Most Improved Player” and junior Debbie Bartell (Wheaton, Glenbard West HS) was elected as the 2005 team captain.

Szafraniec had a 9-5 record at No. 3 doubles playing with sophomore Harley Culbertson (Hinsdale, Central HS). Szafraniec was 4-3 overall in singles and placed third in the CCIW tournament at No. 6 singles.

Bartell was 9-6 at No. 2 singles, where she placed second in the CCIW tourney. After three seasons, Bartell is No. 16 in career singles wins at IWU with a 36-17 mark.

Freshman Sarah Rusch (Naperville, Neuqua Valley HS) was 12-1 at No. 5 singles and became the first IWU women’s tennis player to win a singles flight in the conference tourney since Nicole Tiberi won No. 4 in 2000 and the first at No. 5 since Sara Nance in 1997.

Bartell and junior Lindsey Irwin (Belleville, West HS) were both selected to the all-CCIW first team by league coaches. Irwin was 12-5 as IWU’s No. 1 singles player and earned a third place finish in the CCIW meet.

Irwin’s 34-18 career record makes her No. 18 in singles victories at the school.

First-year head coach Scott McCluskey, whose team placed third in the CCIW meet for the third straight season, awarded letters to nine players. They are, with hometowns and high schools:

SENIOR – Diane Arnold (Bloomington HS)

JUNIORS – Debbie Bartell (Wheaton, Glenbard West HS); Lindsey Irwin (Belleville, West HS); Jane Szafraniec (Mt. Prospect, Rolling Meadows HS).

SOPHOMORES – Harley Culbertson (Hinsdale, Central HS); Michelle Donnelly (Metamora HS); Kristina Sawyer (Batavia HS); Sandra Tobik (Manchester, Mo., Parkway West HS).

FRESHMAN – Sarah Rusch (Naperville, Neuqua Valley HS).

CONTACT: Stew Salowitz, 309-556-3206