LINKS: Big Sky Conference release (5/4/2009)

OGDEN, Utah -- The Big Sky Conference office released its 2009 all-conference tennis teams Monday, May 4, and Northern Colorado senior Tabatha Knop is one of five on the women's team to earn repeat recognition.

Knop, from Colorado Springs, joins Katrina Zheltova (Sacramento State), Stephanie Jasper (Montana State), Orsi Golovics (Northern Arizona) and Edit Suhajda (Northern Arizona) as members of this year's first team who have previously earned first-team honors.

Knop also joins senior teammate Manuela Santos, who was announced Monday as an honorale-mention pick. Both Knop and Santos helped the Bears this season to their first Big Sky Conference tournament semifinal apperance.

Northern Colorado ended its season with a 4-0 loss to top-seed Sacramento State.

"Tabatha Knop did a tremendous job this season leading our team into the championships," Northern Colorado coach Brenda Vlasak said. "Her hard work and dedication, on and off the court, helped our program rise to the next level."

Knop, playing all year at Northern Colorado's No. 1 singles spot, finished the year with a 10-11 individual record. She teamed with Santos at the Bears' No. 1 doubles spot to finish the year with 12-10 doubles mark.

Santos, from Itajai, Brazil, played this year at Northern Colorado's Nos. 2 and 3 singles spot. She finished with a 10-10 record (6-9 at No. 2 and 4-1 at No. 3).

"Manuela has been a huge asset to our team for two years," Vlasak said. "I am very proud of all her accomplishments and believe she has helped our team rise to another level in Division I tennis."