March 11, 2005

Cynthya Goulet has been accorded conference player-of-the-week honors for the second time this season, the Big Ten announced today. The senior Longueil, Quebec, native earned the distinction with her solid play last Saturday in Illinois' conference season-opening win over Purdue at the UI Atkins Tennis Center.

Goulet, now ranked No. 50 by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), topped Purdue's then-76th-ranked Hala Sufi, 6-2, 6-4, in the No. 1 singles match after teaming with sophomore Emily Wang to drub the Boilermakers' Lara Burgarello and Alyssa Rodriguez, 8-1, at No. 1 doubles.

"Cynthya continues to have a great season. Just one loss at the No. 1 position so far (during the dual-match season) is quite a feat," said Illini Coach Sujay Lama.. "She comes to work with good focus and intensity every day, and has done a good job leading a young team. She is most deserving of the honor."

Goulet (19-5) has won 12 of her last 13 and 16 of her last 18 singles matches; she has only lost one contest since the beginning of the dual-match season in January (to No. 5 Dea Sumatri of Washington). She has played in the No. 1 spot for the Fighting Illini throughout the season. She and Wang have won 12 of their last 14 doubles encounters en route to their 19-7 season mark.

Goulet previously was honored as conference player of the week in early February.

Forty-fifth-ranked Illinois is off from competition this weekend, but will resume play next weekend in Naples, Fla., along with the Yellow Jackets in their invitational tournament.