April 25, 2006

Ogden, UT--The Idaho State men's and women's tennis squads were honored by the Big Sky Conference Tuesday as three members were selected to the All-Conference Team. Marc Pijoan and Pablo Garces were each named to the first team, while Denise Cockrell received an honorable mention.

Marc Pijoan was named to the Big Sky's first team for a third straight season. The junior from Barcelona, Spain, helped the Bengals advance to the Big Sky Tournament, which will be played in Pocatello April 27-29.

Pijoan holds a 9-11 overall record at No. 1 singles this season. He also wrapped up regular season play with a 6-13 doubles mark.

Pablo Garces received first team honors for the first time in his career. The senior from Valencia, Spain, finished regular season play with an 8-8 mark, and was an impressive 4-2 in Big Sky play. He went 4-6 at No. 2 singles and 4-2 at the No. 3 singles spot. Garces was 7-9 in doubles play this season.

Cockrell was the lone Bengal women to find a spot on the All-Conference team. The senior went 4-13 at No. 1 singles, while finishing 1-5 in Big Sky play. She also picked up three wins at No. 1 doubles.

The Idaho State men will continue play this week at the Big Sky Tennis Championship. The tournament will be played on the Reed Gym outdoor courts April 27-29. ISU takes the No. 5 seed into the tournament and will face No. 4 Eastern Washington at 2 p.m. on April 27.

2006 Women's Big Sky All-Conference Tennis Team

First Team

*#Margarita Karnaukhova (Sacramento State)

$Nura Lozano (Montana State)

$Elana Smit (Weber State)

$Julia Schmandt (Northern Arizona)

$Cecilia Helland (Sacramento State)

Liz Walker (Montana)

Luba Schifris (Sacramento State)

Joyce Martinez Gutierrez (Sacramento State)

*Most Valuable Player

#Four-Time First-Team Selection

$Two-Time First Team Selection
Second Team

Kasey Knox (Eastern Washington)

Mari Castello (Montana)

Katie Schurr (Northern Arizona)

Nicole Luetolf (Montana State)

Paij Porter (Northern Arizona)
Honorable Mention
Rachel Berger, Fr., Eastern Washington; Denise Cockrell, Sr., Idaho State; Gabriela Venditto, So., Weber State; Karla Pretorius, Sr., Weber State.
2006 Men's Big Sky All-Conference Tennis Team
First Team

*#Federico Ueltschi (Montana State)

#Marek Gebicki (Montana State)

^Jan Steenekamp (Montana)

^Marc Pijoan (Idaho State)

Gabriel Loredo (Sacramento State)

Pannhara Mam (Eastern Washington)

Junaid Hossain (Sacramento State)

Pablo Garces (Idaho State)

Henrik Lilja (Northern Arizona)

*Most Valuable Player

#Four-Time First-Team Selection

^Three-Time First-Team Selection
Second Team

Stuart Wing (Montana)

Tejeshwara Chigateri (Montana State)

Patrick Millican (Eastern Washington)

Trent Hayward (Northern Arizona)

Sascha Kiehne (Weber State)
Honorable Mention
Kyle Schraeder, Fr., Eastern Washington; Kyle McDonald, So., Montana State; Fabio Mancarella, Fr., Weber State