Big Ten Release 

ROSEMONT, Ill. - For the second-straight week, fighting Illini sophomore Asuka Kawai has been named the Big Ten Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week, as announced today by the league office. Kawai is the first Illini women's tennis athlete to earn the honor in back-to-back weeks. 

After a strong performance at the Blue Gray National Tennis Classic last month, Kawai continued her stellar play at No. 13 Northwestern on Friday, as the Palatine, Ill., native defeated No. 30 Clarissa Hand, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, to mark her third-straight singles victory over a top-40 ITA ranked opponent. Paired with fellow-sophomore Mia Rabinowitz, Kawai also added a doubles victory, as the two took down NU's Pozo/Doshi, 6-2. 

Up Next

The Illini get set for a busy weekend as the team will travel east to take on both Indiana (March 8) and Purdue (March 9).

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