ROSEMONT, Ill. – Illinois redshirt sophomore Zach Viiala was recognized by the conference office on Wednesday as the Big Ten Player of the Week following his performances during the Fighting Illini's wins over Northern Illinois, Oregon, and Washington.
Viiala earned conference weekly honors for the first time in his career, while this marks the third straight week that an Illini student-athlete has been named the Big Ten Player of the Week.
The Perth, Australia, native went 4-0 across singles and doubles play across the team's three dual wins while remaining perfect on the singles courts this season.
On the doubles courts, Viiala began the weekend with a dramatic 7-6(6) win over Oregon's Cameron Burton/Lachlan Robertson on Court 3 on Friday. Against Washington on Sunday, he secured a 6-3 triumph against the Huskie duo of Stephane Kamendje and Rohan Belday.
In singles play, Viiala posted a 6-2, 6-0 decision against Northern Illinois' Chiao Bo Suo Nan on Court 4. He followed it up with a 6-0, 6-0 triumph over Oregon's Cameron Burton.
With his two singles victories, Viiala is now 7-0 on the singles courts this season.
Illinois, now on an eight-match winning streak, will take on Nebraska away from home on Friday at 6 p.m. CT before taking on Wisconsin on the road on Sunday at 12 p.m. CT.
