Air Force Academy

April 23, 2003

Air Force junior Laura Nigro was awarded the first annual Sportsmanship Award Wednesday at the Mountain West Conference Women's Tennis Championship banquet in San Diego, Calif. In addition, Nigro earned all-conference honors for singles and teamed with partner Gina Black to garner all-MWC honors for doubles.

Nigro, a Lincoln, Neb., native, earned the first-ever Sportsmanship Award for her on and off the court contributions as a member of the Falcon tennis squad. On the court, she compiled 17 wins overall in singles competition and teamed with Black for a 21-14 overall record and a 16-11 mark in dual matches this season. Off the court, Nigro has kept herself busy. In her three years as a cadet she has completed Basic Training, Combat Survival Training and an internship at Offutt Air Force Base for Operation Air Force. She also participated in the Dream to Read program and serves as a mentor for freshman cadets.

San Diego State senior Silvia Tornier was named MWC Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. Tornier, ranked No. 85 in the nation, has a 21-8 overall record on the season (18-5 in dual matches) and finished MWC play undefeated (7-0), all at the No. 1 position. The Hamburg, Germany, native, also teamed with Indra Erichsen (No. 34 duo in the nation) to finish the regular season at 23-4 overall (20-3 dual), including a 6-1 conference record.

The 2003 MWC Coach of the Year award will be announced at the conclusion of the 2003 MWC Women's Tennis Championship on Saturday, April 26. Air Force opens the tournament on Thursday, April 24 against New Mexico.

2002-03 Mountain West Conference Women's Tennis All-Conference Team

SINGLES
Name, Class, Institution
Laura Nigro, Jr., Air Force
Hadley Macfarlane, Fr., BYU
Dominique Reynolds, Sr., BYU
Sanja Hansson, Sr., Colorado State
Maja Kovacek, Fr., New Mexico
Sandy Lukowski, Jr., New Mexico
Lindsey Hedberg, Jr., San Diego State
Katalina Romero, Jr., San Diego State
Silvia Tornier, Sr., San Diego State
Tracie Chong, So., UNLV
Paulina Janus, Sr., UNLV
Gyorgyi Zsiros, So., UNLV

DOUBLES
Names, Institution
Laura Nigro/Gina Black, Air Force
Leeza Klempner/Dominique Reynolds, BYU
Sandy Lukowski/Maja Kovacek, New Mexico
Tiffany Robertson/Michelle Hiedbrink, New Mexico
Katja Karrento/Lindsey Hedberg, San Diego State
Silvia Tornier/Indra Erichsen, San Diego State

PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Silvia Tornier, Sr., San Diego State

SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
Laura Nigro, Jr., Air Force