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University of Illinois Athletics

2011-12 Women's Tennis Roster

Chelcie Abajian

  • Height 5-4
  • Class Senior
  • Hometown Commack, N.Y.
  • High School Commack High School

Biography

Senior 2011-12

  • Secured 17 doubles wins, including 13 in dual action, along with eight singles victories
  • Reached as high as No. 27 alongside junior Breanne Smutko in the national doubles rankings
  • Earned the team's Scholar-Athlete Award
  • Academic All-Big Ten.

Junior 2010-11 

  • Won 11 singles matches, including three in Big Ten play and two over nationally ranked opponents
  • Collected 14 doubles victories, with 10 coming alongside teammate Breanne Smutko
  • Duo reached as high as No. 55 in the national rankings
  • Missed the final 10 singles matches of the season due to injury
  • Academic All-Big Ten.

Sophomore 2009-10 

  • Secured her second straight 20-win season with 21 including a 7-2 mark in Big Ten play
  • Played primarily at Nos. 5 and 6 singles
  • Notched her first career win over a nationally ranked opponent with a two-set victory over No. 117 Nazari Urbina of Texas A&M
  • Tallied a new career-best mark in doubles with 21
  • Teamed up with Rachael White to go 10-5 overall
  • Academic All-Big Ten honoree.

Freshman 2008-09 

  • Finished the season with a 26-19 singles record
  • Played primarily at the Nos. 3 and 4 singles spots
  • Posted a 5-5 mark in Big Ten matches
  • Started off the year with a 13-7 record in the fall, including a quarterfinal appearance at the 2008 Wilson/ITA Midwest Regional Championship
  • Opened the season ranked No. 12 in the Midwest Region
  • In doubles, went 20-18 with three different partners
  • Teamed with Leigh Finnegan to go 10-10 in dual play, at the Nos. 1 and 2 doubles spots, primarily at No. 1 (7-10)
  • Voted by her teammates as Player to Watch.

Juniors/High School

  • Played her freshman year at Horace Greeley High School in Chappaqua, New York
  • Helped lead her team to a conference title during that year
  • During her freshman year she played No.1 singles and was named all-state, all-section, and all-Conference
  • Plays the majority of her tennis at Sportime Syosset and Sportime Bethpage for over two years
  • In 2006, she became the G16 Supernational Clay Court Doubles Champion and earned a No. 1 G16s National Doubles Ranking
  • Placed third in singles during the G16s National Open.

Personal

  • Born Chelcie Joy Abajian on July 20, 1990
  • Daughter of Lorraine Abajian
  • Has an older sister, Melanie, and an older brother, Glenn
  • Majoring in recreation, sport and tourism
  • Her biggest thrill in sports came when she won the 2006 G16 Clay Court Doubles Championship
  • Favorite athlete is Ana Ivanovic because she has no fear when she steps onto the tennis court
  • Says all of her coaches have influenced her athletic career the most because of their constant support and giving her the confidence to excel
  • Names her mother as the most influential person in her life because she is a strong and very supportive woman
  • Plans to stay in the tennis world after she graduates whether it is coaching or representing a major tennis company

The Abajian File

Favorite movie: The Blind Side
Favorite quote: "It's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog."
Favorite TV shows: Friday Night Lights and Modern Family
Favorite sports team: New York Yankees
Favorite food: Dark chocolate
Pre-match ritual: Warming up with Big Al
Favorite place on campus: Irwin Academic Center
Favorite sport: Volleyball
Favorite musical artists: Five for Fighting, Rascal Flatts and Keith Urban
Best memory as an Illini: Winning our NCAA first-round match over Vanderbilt her freshman year
Favorite Disney movie: The Lion King
Favorite superhero: Batman

Statistics

Season Statistics

Season Statistics

No statistics available for this season.

Career Statistics

There are no statistics available for this player.

Historical Player Information

  • 2008-09Freshman

    5'4"
  • 2009-10Sophomore

    5'4"
  • 2010-11Junior

    5'4"
  • 2011-12Senior

    5'4"