May 16, 2011
Complete List of ITA Regional Award Winners
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Two members of the Northwestern women's tennis program were among those recently honored with year-end awards by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, the organization announced last week. Senior captain Maria Mosolova was recognized as ITA Midwest Region Senior of the Year while associate head coach Jackie Holden was named Assistant Coach of the Year.
Mosolova is the first Northwestern senior to win the regional award since Cristelle Grier in 2006, while Holden becomes the third Northwestern assistant under Claire Pollard to be honored as Regional Assistant Coach of the Year, joining David Mullins (2008) and Leigh Weinraub (2005).
Mosolova has enjoyed an impressive final year at Northwestern, posting a 22-2 dual record at No. 1 singles and picking up 19 more wins in doubles. A four-time All-Big Ten selection and a 2009 Midwest Regional singles champion, Mosolova asserted herself as a top player in the region with key wins in recent weeks. On May 1, she defeated No. 10 Denise Muresan of Michigan in three sets in the Big Ten Tournament final, and on Saturday knocked off No. 5 Kristy Frilling of Notre Dame, 6-2, 6-2, in the Wildcats' 4-0 NCAA Championship win over the Irish.
It was Mosolova's second victory this season over Frilling, who lost just two other times in dual play this season.
In the coming weeks, Mosolova will attempt to complete her Northwestern career as a four-time NCAA All-American when she competes in the NCAA Singles Championship at Stanford beginning May 25.
Now in her third season on staff at Northwestern, Holden has continued to make a significant impact on the courts for NU. Holden, who was elevated to the position of associate head coach in 2010, has helped the Wildcats to three consecutive berths in the NCAA Championship round of 16 and this season guided NU to six victories over top-25-ranked opponents.
By virtue of winning the Midwest Region's awards, both Mosolova and Holden become eligible to receive the ITA's national awards to be announced next week at the NCAA Championships.
Northwestern returns to action at 8 p.m. CT Friday as the 'Cats travel to California to take on No. 1-seeded Stanford in the NCAA Championship Round of 16.
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