MOUNT VERNON, Iowa &045; Becky Birkhofer of Albert Lea earned a varsity letter in women’s tennis at Cornell College for the 2004 season.

Birkhofer, a 2004 graduate of Albert Lea High School, is a freshman with an open major. She is the daughter of Dewey and Jan Birkhofer.

Cornell earned a No. 15 ranking in the Central Region after going 11-4 during the fall season and finishing second in the Iowa Conference Tournament to Luther. It was Cornell’s fourth runner-up finish in the last eight seasons. Junior Marie Schutte (Boone, Iowa) was named Iowa Conference Most Valuable Performer for the second consecutive season, giving the Rams the last five IIAC MVPs – Schutte in 2003 and ’04, Lindsey Pfalmer in 2000 and ’02 and Sarah Leavenworth in 2001.

Schutte (12-2 record) is rated No. 15 regionally in singles and the doubles team of Schutte and sophomore Emily Loewen (Lawrence, Kan.) is rated No. 16. Schutte and Loewen were 15-8 during the fall at No. 1 doubles. Loewen posted a team-best 13 singles victories. The doubles team of sophomore Jenna Morris (Swisher, Iowa) and Brittany Roth (Stillwater, Minn.) was 15-5.

More information on the Cornell women’s tennis program – including final statistics – may be found at www. cornellcollege. edu /athletics/ womens-tennis.