Chambers named NAIA All-American

by Derrick Pacheco<br
| May 28, 2009 9:00 PM

LIBERTY, Mo. — After leading the William Jewell College girls tennis team to an 11-8 record and a second-place finish in the Heart of America Athletic Conference, 2007 Moses Lake graduate Nikki Chambers was named a 2008-2009 honorable mention All-American.

Chambers and her doubles partner Tanya Ratana wrapped up their 2008-2009 season as one of the best National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) teams in the country. Chambers and Ratana went 16-6 overall this season, including a perfect 7-0 in conference play.

This was the first season Chambers and Ratana played together.

Chambers also served as the William Jewell College Cardinals’ No. 1 singles player, going 14-4.

Chambers was voted the Cardinals’ Most Valuable Player by her teammates for her performances on the court.

This season’s All-American nomination is the second of Chambers’ career. She was an honorable mention selection in 2007-2008 for William Jewell College.

Chambers has been ranked with her doubles partners as high as No. 14 in the nation during her career and Cardinals head coach Paul Worstell said he is proud of her.

“This is a great honor for Nikki and an honor for our program,” he said. “Nikki is really becoming a leader on our team and I am looking forward to seeing her game develop even more over the next two years.”