May 26, 2009
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern sophomore Maria Mosolova (Moscow, Russia/No. 204) has been selected as one of four finalists for the 2009 Honda Sports Award, presented annually to the top student-athlete in each women's college sport. Mosolova, who spent 10 weeks as the No. 1-ranked singles player in the country this year, is the fourth Wildcat in school history to be nominated for the award in women's tennis.
Joining Mosolova on the ballot are Duke's Mallory Cecil, Aurelija Miseviciute of Arkansas and Laura Vallverdu of Miami (Fla.).
In her two years at Northwestern, Mosolova has compiled a 77-14 record in singles and has twice earned All-American singles status by reaching the quarterfinals of the 2008 and 2009 NCAA Championships. After reaching the semifinals in both the ITA All-American tournament and the ITA National Indoor Singles Championships last fall, Mosolova became the first preseason No. 1-ranked singles player in Northwestern history. In 2009, 23 of Mosolova's 36 victories came against ranked players, including three against competitors ranked in the top 10.
The native of Moscow, Russia, has helped Northwestern continue its dominance in the Big Ten by going 17-0 in career league dual matches, earning Big Ten Player of the Year and all-conference honors in each of her first two seasons with the 'Cats.
This season, Mosolova added the doubles component to her game in posting a 25-5 overall record with partner Keri Robison while qualifying for her first NCAA Doubles Championship.
The Honda Award also takes into account a student-athlete's performance in the classroom, where Mosolova is an economics major and earned ITA Scholar-Athlete recognition last December.
Each sport's winner automatically becomes a candidate for the 2009 College Woman Athlete of the Year award.