April 3, 2003
EVANSTON, Ill. - Freshman Cristelle Grier was named Big Ten Co-Women's Tennis Player of the Week announced by the conference office today. This is the first such honor for the Wildcats this season.
Grier shares this week's honors after collecting her 17th dual-match win of the season, defeating Purdue's Gretchan Haynor, to set NU's school record for consecutive wins. The previous long streak was 16 matches, held most recently by Lia Jackson (2000). The freshman went 3-0 over the weekend at No. 1 singles. She defeated Texas' Kendra Strohm, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, on Thursday, and then knocked off Ilinois' Jennifer McGaffigan and Purdue's Haynor in straight sets over the weekend. Grier, ranked 7th in the nation, is now 17-0 in dual matches this season and 4-0 in Big Ten matches.
Grier shares the conference honor with Minnesota's Michaela Havelkova, who went 2-0 in singles and doubles as Minnesota posted a pair of road wins at Michigan and Michigan State.
The 'Cats are 12-6 this season and 4-0 in the Big Ten. The 'Cats travel to Iowa for a 2 p.m. tilt Friday afternoon.