May 22, 2012

DeKALB, Ill. - Northern Illinois women's tennis sophomore Haley Dekkinga (Allegan, Mich./Allegan) was an honorable mention Academic All-MAC selection for the 2011-12 season, the Mid-American Conference announced Tuesday. Overall, Dekkinga was one of 17 honorable mentions and 25 overall selections.

Dekkinga is the first Huskie since 2007 (Chrissy Nagel) to be recognized on the Academic All-MAC Team. Since NIU rejoined the MAC in 1997, she is the sixth student-athlete from the program to be honored.

With a 3.895 GPA, Dekkinga was named NIU Female Scholar Athlete of the Week three times in 2011-12 while playing No. 3 singles and No. 3 doubles. She posted a career season after a 10-28 rookie combined record, posting a 25-18 combined record (12-9 singles, 13-9 doubles). Combined with her seven doubles wins in the fall, she finished seventh on the all-time Huskie top 10 list for doubles victories in a year with 20. Ranking second on the team in combined wins, Dekkinga played a large role in helping the Huskies go 11-12 (2-6 MAC) to give NIU its most wins in five years under Head Coach Ryun Ferrell.

Honorees are selected in a vote of MAC Faculty Athletics Representatives. All nominees must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or better and have participated in at least 50 percent of the season's contests. Freshmen and first-year transfers are not eligible.