CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Three Fighting Illini women's tennis players were recognized by the league office with All-Big Ten honors on Wednesday. McKenna Schaefbauer was selected to the first team unanimously while Kimiko Cooper landed an All-Freshman Team nod, and Alice Xu landed the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award distinction.
Schaefbauer, a senior playing in the No. 1 singles slot for the last two seasons, earned her second All-Big Ten recognition in as many seasons with the 2026 honor. The Normal, Ill., native was named second team All-Big Ten in 2025 - the first postseason honor of her career. Schaefbauer saved her best for last, tallying a 23-10 singles record across the 2025-26 regular season, which includes a 14-6 reading in dual play and 9-4 effort in Big Ten matches. Along the way, she racked up a team-best three nationally-ranked victories and spent the entire dual season in the ITA singles rankings, climbing as high as a career-best No. 29. She owns a team-best four clinches on the season. On the doubles courts, Schaefbauer appeared across all three courts in dual play while working with four different partners and picking up 10 wins.
Cooper, a mid-year enrollee from Sydney, Australia, competes predominately in the No. 2 slot in singles play but picked up a win - and clinch - in her lone appearance at No. 1. Thrown right into the fire, Cooper has posted a 9-10 record in singles dual play, which includes a 4-4 reading in Big Ten outings. On the doubles courts, Cooper has competed in the No. 2 and 3 slots, amassing six wins across work with four different teammates. The Aussie marks Illinois second selection to the Big Ten's All-Freshman Team in as many seasons since its inception.Â
Xu, a junior that has appeared in the No. 2-6 singles slots as well as the No. 1 and 2 doubles spots, was recognized as a Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honoree for the second time of her career. The Vienna, Va., native enters postseason with an 8-6 overall singles record, which includes a 7-4 reading in duals, and a 4-2 mark in Big Ten play. On the doubles courts, she has posted a 16-14 overall record while working with three different teammates. Xu and teammate Tess Bucher have appeared in seven ITA doubles polls this season, coming in as high as No. 59. In the fall, the tandem made a run to the ITA Midwest Regional doubles semifinals.
With the expansion of the Big Ten Conference ahead of the 2024-25 season, the league adjusted its all-conference honors to two 12-person teams and added a 10-player All-Freshman Team.
