June 7, 2012

MILWAUKEE - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's tennis team has handed out its postseason awards following one of the best team seasons in school history.

Junior Maddy Soule was named the team's Most Outstanding Player while junior Kelly Fritz earned honors as the Top Doubles Performer. Plus, Brittany Skemp was named the team's Most Improved Player and head coach Sean McInerney awarded the Iron Panther Award to the entire team.

Soule claimed a spot on the All-League First Team after setting a school record for singles victories. The junior won 16 matches this spring and 25 contests overall, posting a 6-2 record in the top singles spot during league play. She was also dominant in doubles much of the season, teaming with Christina Colarossi to set a new school record for doubles wins with 24, including a 16-6 mark this spring and a 5-3 record in league play.

Soule was excellent all season long for Milwaukee. She had singles winning streaks of six and three matches this spring, including a three-match streak against Horizon League opponents in April. She is now up to 49 career singles wins - third in school history - and she also has 40 doubles wins, a figure that is seventh in school history.

"Maddy once again had a fantastic season," McInerney said. "To win 49 total singles and doubles matches this season, all at number-one singles and number-one doubles, is a huge achievement. Having a player at the top of your lineup that consistently wins is a huge advantage for our team and gives us a chance to win every match. Maddy worked extremely hard this season and to produce record-setting seasons back-to-back is something she should be very proud of."

Fritz posted an excellent season, particularly in doubles play. She won 13 doubles contests in the spring, including 12 while teamed with Kristin Kurer. In all, Fritz collected a total of 18 doubles victories over the fall and spring campaigns, placing her in the top five for single-season doubles victories. She teamed with Kurer to win eight-straight doubles matches in January and February.

"Kelly really became a great leader this season on the doubles court," McInerney said. "She played with a partner who had very little doubles experience and finished with a total in the top-five for single season doubles wins in school history. She was a vitally important part of our doubles lineup and I am proud of the player she has become."

Skemp posted an impressive 23 singles wins and 11 doubles victories this season. She won 13 singles matches during the spring season alone, including six in league play. She also won nine singles matches and six doubles contests in the fall.

"Brittany had an outstanding season for us," McInerney said. "She went from 3-5 in conference last season to finishing 6-2 this season. She worked very hard at improving her game and accepted the challenge of being a vital part of the lineup. I am very happy for her and am looking forward to her taking one more step her senior season."

As a team, the Panthers collected a best-ever third-place finish in the Horizon League standings with a roster that has just one senior, leading McInerney to be named league coach of the year. UWM also set a school record with six league wins, had individuals set school records for both singles and doubles wins and finished one win shy of the school record for overall team wins. The Panthers have also now increased their overall and league win total in each of the last two seasons.

"This season the entire team took our training and effort to a new level," McInerney said. "The tennis season is very long and the entire team deserves to be commended for the sacrifice and hard work they put in."