Feb. 27, 2008

EVANSTON, Ill. -- After posting three singles and two doubles wins last weekend, freshman Maria Mosolova (Moscow, Russia) has been named Big Ten Player of the Week for the second time this season. The top-ranked Wildcats have earned four-of-seven weekly awards handed out by the conference this season.

In singles, Mosolova went 3-0 last weekend with wins over No. 5 North Carolina, Princeton and No. 8 Duke. On Friday, she defeated UNC's 28th-ranked Katrina Tsang in straight sets, 6-2, 6-1. She won her other two matches in straight sets including the clincher at No. 1 singles against Duke.

In doubles, Mosolova tamed with Samantha Murray to take an 8-3 win at No. 2 against Princeton and partnered with Alexis Conill to top Duke, 8-4.

As a team, Northwestern is 11-1 on the year and has moved up to No. 1 in this week's ITA rankings. The No. 1 ranking is the first in program history and the Wildcats are the first Big Ten team to be ranked No. 1. NU is only the seventh team in the last 20 years to achieve the top spot and is the first Northern school to be ranked No. 1.

This is the fourth weekly honor for the Wildcats this season. Georgia Rose and Samantha Murray took home the award early this year.

The Wildcats are off this weekend and return to action March 7 against Wisconsin.