Three Kalamazoo College women's tennis players were named to the All-MIAA team Thursday afternoon. Caroline Norton and Renee Torres are first team honorees and Sophie Zhuang was named to the second team. This is the first time since 2018 that K has had two players earn first team honors.
This is Norton's second-consecutive year being named to the first team. The senior psychology & business major from Ann Arbor (Skyline H.S.) finished the season with a 6-2 record at one singles in MIAA play.
Norton has been named MIAA Player of the Week three times in her career, most recently on April 4, and sports a career singles record of 20-4 in conference play.
"Caroline is a great competitor and has played the toughest spot in a college tennis lineup for two years now," said Head Coach Mark Murphy. "She is only the seventh Kalamazoo College women's tennis player to be All-MIAA First Team for two years."
Torres, a junior, was Norton's doubles partner, and the Hornets' pair of first-team honorees combined to sport a fine 10-4 record at one doubles. The psychology & Spanish major from Northville (Northville H.S.), finished the regular season 6-1 in the MIAA at two singles (11-7 overall). She earned MIAA Player of the Week honors on April 11.
"Renee is just starting to use all parts of her game," Murphy said. "She only lost seven games out of seven matches in the MIAA this year."
Zhuang, a junior, was named to the second team after a season that saw her finish with a 6-1 conference mark at three singles.
The junior biochemistry major from Northville (Northville H.S.) combined with doubles partner Meghan Killmaster to post a sparkling 9-3 record at second doubles. The duo won all seven of their MIAA conference matches.
"Sophie is a very skilled all-court player," Murphy said. "Her record in singles and doubles speaks to her ability, 6-1 in singles and 7-0 in doubles. This is her second All-MIAA selection."
The Hornets concluded the regular season with a 9-10 overall record, which included a 7-1 mark in the MIAA, good for an outright second-place finish. The Hornets host Calvin in an MIAA Tournament semifinal match Thursday, May 5 at 5 p.m.
Coach Murphy also praised the play of Ella Knight, "Although Ella was not selected, the senior captain was 8-0 in singles in conference play this year and 7-0 last year. She is a leader on and off the court and has been instrumental to our success."