April 23, 2008

NORMAL, Ill. - After a successful regular season the Illinois State women's tennis team seniors, Véronique Parke-Bédard and Carolyne Parent were honored for their scholastic success on Wednesday by the Missouri Valley Conference. Both student-athletes were named to the 2007 MVC Women's Scholar-Athlete First Team. This is Parke-Bédard's second first-team selection, while it is Parent's first after receiving honorable mention scholar-athlete honors two times before.

"It is a great honor for them to be selected for the first team," said head coach Chris Hoover. "This is really what it is all about. Véronique and Carolyne embody what it means to be a student-athlete. They are an essential part of our team on the court and in the classrooms. I am extremely proud of them both."

MVC Tennis Scholar-Athlete nominees must all show exemplary work in the classroom, which includes a 3.0 cumulative GPA, be a sophomore in academic and athletic standing and be projected to participate in the 2007 State Farm MVC Women's Tennis Championship this weekend or have competed in 75 percent of the regular season matches.

Both Parent and Parke-Bédard met these requirements and much more. Over the past four years, Parke-Bédard has maintained a 3.85 GPA while majoring in international business, while Parent has held a 3.65 mark as a psychology major.

In addition to their on-court success, Parent has competed in every regular season match, while Parke-Bédard has competed in all but one. Parke-Bédard has been one of the team leaders in both singles and doubles action helping the Redbirds to a 12-9 overall record and a 6-2 mark in the Valley. The Pont-Rouge, Québec, native went 21-11 on the season passing her 20-win record for the second time in her career. She was 7-1 in MVC play and ended the regular season winning nine of the last 10 matches.

Parke-Bédard ended the regular season doubles action with a 16-12 record, including a 5-1 mark in the MVC. Parke-Bédard achieved this success with the help of senior Katri Miller.

Parent has also been a key contributor to the team, ending the regular season with a 13-20 mark and 3-5 Valley record, mainly in the No. 4 spot. In doubles, Parent partnered with sophomore Julia Zubkova to earn a 15-14 record, including a 3-4 MVC record at the No. 2 spot.

Parent and Parke-Bédard return to the courts on Friday where they will lead the Redbirds in competition against Drake in the first round of the MVC Championship, in Omaha, Neb. The first serve is set for 12:30 p.m.