TEMPE, Ariz. – Illinois women's tennis head coach was named the Wilson/ITA Midwest Regional Coach of the Year, while sophomore Asuka Kawai earned the ITA Midwest Regional Player to Watch award as announced by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) on Saturday morning. This marks back-to-back ITA Midwest Coaching honors for Clark after winning the same award last season. Kawai carries on the Illini tradition after Illini graduate Jaclyn Switkes earned the same honor last season.
During the 2019 campaign, Clark led the Illini to a 16-12 overall record, including a 9-1 record at home and 8-3 during Big Ten play. Illinois earned its 13th NCAA Tournament berth, while reaching the Big Ten title match for the second time in program history (2001). The Orange and Blue matched the program's fifth longest home winning streak with seven wins this season. The last time the Illini had seven or more consecutive home wins was in 2002 (Jan. 19-Apr. 14) when the team recorded 10 straight home wins.
Kawai claims the first ITA Midwest Regional honor of her career. In dual-match play, the Palatine, Ill. native was 15-9 in singles and 19-7 in doubles this season. In Big Ten play, Kawai had an 8-2 singles record, while notching 9-2 in doubles play. In the No. 1 singles position for every matchup this season, she has posted eight wins over national ranked opponents, including five in the top 50. She has also clinched three matches for the Illini this season, including an upset over then No. 18 Ohio State on April 21.
The sophomore has collected numerous accolades this season including a unanimous selection to the All-Big Ten Team and becoming the first Illinois women's tennis athlete to win back-to-back Big Ten Athlete of the Week honors (Feb. 26 and March 5).
Up next, Kawai will represent the Orange and Blue at the NCAA Singles Championships in Orlando, Fla. starting Monday. She is the first NCAA Singles Championships qualifier since 2005 when Cynthya Goulet earned a berth to the tournament. The singles and doubles for both the men's and women's will run simultaneously for the tournament until Saturday, May 25.
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