BURNSVILLE, Minn. – Bemidji State University Women's Tennis graduate senior Sophie Groen was voted by Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference league coaches as the 2025 recipient of the NSIC Outstanding Senior of the Year in women's tennis. A native of Uitgeest, Netherlands, Groen is majoring in sport management / psychology and holds a 3.48 cumulative grade point average. 
 
Groen is the first from the BSU Women's Tennis program to receive the award since it was initiated in 2020-21. She is just the third Beaver to earn the award across all sports (Ryne Prigge and Mary Goodwin).

The "NSIC Outstanding Senior of the Year Award" is presented to a NSIC Women's Tennis student-athlete who participates at their institution for four years and is academically superior while making a positive contribution to their team and the University. The NSIC Outstanding Senior of the Year award was initiated in 2020-21 to honor an outstanding senior that exemplifies the attributes of the model NSIC student-athlete.

Groen has played in 14 matches at No. 1 singles is 8-6 against opponents and 4-5 against conference opponents. She has played 15 matches at No. 1 doubles with Mia Leshem and is 11-4 and 5-4 against conference opponents. She finished sixth in the conference at No. 1 singles with a .538 winning percentage and third in No. 1 doubles with a winning percentage of .714. Holds a 25-15 career record at No. 1 singles and 31-11 at No. 1 doubles. She was honored as an All-NSIC First Team player in doubles, and an All-NSIC Second Team All-Conference player in singles twice in her career. 

Off the court, Groen is Student-Athlete Advisory Committee leader for BSU. She has worked with the United Way Food Shelf Drive, BSU Blood Drive, Bemidji Veterans Home service, Jack & Jill Pre-School volunteer, and has volunteered for the Special Olympics.

Academically, Groen has been a member of the Presidents Honor Roll, Dean's List, a Myrtie Hunt Scholarship recipient, and a Chet Anderson scholarship recipient. She also an NSIC All-Academic Team member.  

"Sophie epitomizes the spirit of the Senior of the Year award," said Head Coach Kyle Fodness. "She has been an integral leader on the team from the moment she stepped on campus, and has remained a steady source of optimism, support, and conscientious leadership for her teammates through the triumphs and adversities of her college career. She has been an excellent player and is an even more impressive person. She has become a leader in the Bemidji State athletic department and has made a tremendous positive impact in the campus community."
 
For more information on the Bemidji State women's tennis program, tickets or schedules, visit BSUBeavers.com, follow the Beavers on X or Instagram or like them on Facebook.
 
Located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men's and women's hockey membership in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).
 
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