Big Ten Release
ROSEMONT, Ill. - Illinois women's tennis sophomore Asuka Kawai has been named as a unanimous selection to the 2019 All-Big Ten Team, as announced today by the league office.
Playing at No. 1 singles all season, Kawai has put together a record of 15-9, including eight wins over nationally ranked singles opponents. Earlier this season, the Palatine, Ill., native became the first Illinois women's tennis athlete to win back-to-back Big Ten Athlete of the Week honors. The sophomore currently sits at a career-best No. 43 in the ITA Singles Rankings.
Earlier this week, Kawai became just the fifth Illini women's tennis athlete to earn a berth at the NCAA Women's Tennis Singles Championships, which will be held May 20-25 at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Fla.
Looking Ahead
Illinois travels to Durham, N.C., for the NCAA First Round, where the Orange and Blue will take on Arizona State on Saturday, May 4. Host team, Duke, as well as James Madison, join the Illini and ASU in the Durham Regional.
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All-Big Ten Team
ASUKA KAWAI, Illinois
MADISON APPEL, Indiana
Natalie Whalen, Indiana
Elisa van Heuvele Treadwell, Iowa
KATE FAHEY, Michigan
Brienne Minor, Michigan
Giulia Pairone, Michigan
Claire Reifeis, Nebraska
Julie Byrne, Northwestern
CLARISSA HAND, Northwestern
ISABELLE BOULAIS, Ohio State
SHIORI FUKUDA, Ohio State
SILVIA AMBROSIO, Purdue
Sara Castellano, Wisconsin
Athlete of the Year
KATE FAHEY, Michigan
Co-Freshmen of the Year
Clarissa Hand, Northwestern
Isabelle Boulais, Ohio State
Coach of the Year
Ronni Bernstein, Michigan
Sportsmanship Award Honorees
Daniela Pedraza Novak, Illinois
Michelle McKamey, Indiana
Adorabol Huckleby, Iowa
Katsiaryna Yemelyanenka, Maryland
Brienne Minor, Michigan
Samantha Memije, Michigan State
Caitlyn Merbacher, Minnesota
Hayley Haakenstad, Nebraska
Lee Or, Northwestern
Luna Dormet, Ohio State
Gabby O'Gorman, Penn State
Zala Dovnik, Purdue
Kat Muzik, Rutgers
Ava Markham, Wisconsin
UNANIMOUS SELECTION IN ALL CAPS
