ORLANDO, Fla. – Fighting Illini women's tennis sophomore Asuka Kawai saw an unforgettable season come to a close during the NCAA Singles Quarterfinals on Thursday evening at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Fla.
"Obviously this is not the result Asuka (Kawai) was looking for today, but it doesn't take anything away from what she accomplished this week," said head coach Evan Clark. "I could not be prouder of Asuka (Kawai) and the incredible year she put together from start to finish."
Ranked No. 43 in the latest Oracle/ITA Division I Women's rankings, Kawai fell in straight sets to top-seed and ranked Estela Perez Somarriba of Miami, 4-6, 4-6. Kawai was able to battle back to take a 3-2 lead in the second set before Perez Somarriba closed out the match.
Kawai concludes her memorable sophomore season with a 18-10 singles record since the beginning of the spring season. The Palatine, Ill. native also recorded 11Â ranked victories in singles play, including a top-10 victory over North Carolina's Alexa Graham during the NCAA Tournament's Round of 16. She earned Unanimous All-Big Ten selection for the first time in her career and was named the ITA Midwest Region's Player to Watch. She also was a two-time Big Ten Tennis Athlete of the Week (Feb. 26 and March 5) this season.
"To beat 11 ranked opponents, earn unanimous All-Big Ten selection, achieve All-American honors, and reach the Elite Eight in the NCAA Singles Tournament will certainly go down as one of the best, if not the best individual season in program history," noted Clark.
Her quarterfinalist finish surpasses Illinois Athletics Hall of Famer, Lindsey Nimmo Bristow, who previously held the Orange and Blue's record for the best finish at the NCAA Singles Championships, playing in the Round of 32 in 1991 and 1993.
"The exciting part for me is that I know we get to have her back for two more years," said Clark. "She certainly has a lot of room to develop even more, along with the rest of the program, so we are delighted to keep building and certainly have a bright future."
Next week, she will learn where her success in the postseason landed her in the final Oracle/ITA Division I Women's Singles rankings of the season.
Singles Main Draw
Round of 64 (May 20) – def. No. 11 Maria Mateas (Duke), 3-6, 6-2, 6-3
Round of 32 (May 21) – def. No. 50 Brienne Minor (Michigan), 6-3, 7-6(11)
Round of 16 (May 22) – def. No. 7 Alexa Graham (North Carolina), 7-5, 6-3
Quarterfinals (May 23) – fell to No. 1 Estela Perez Somarriba (Miami), 4-6, 4-6
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