EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern sophomore Erin Larner (Portland, Ore./Jesuit) is the Big Ten Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week as announced by the Conference on Tuesday.
It is the second such honor of her career. She previously earned the award on Jan. 27, 2015.
Larner received this week's honor based upon her efforts in the Wildcats' home wins over Purdue and Indiana last weekend. In Friday's match against the Boilermakers, she teamed with Jillian Rooney at No. 3 doubles as their pairing earned a victory in a tiebreaker -- 7-6 (4) -- in the decisive match to give Northwestern the doubles point. Larner then notched a straight-sets win at No. 1 singles, pulling away from Nicole Robinson for a 7-6 (3), 6-0 victory to help NU to a 7-0 win over Purdue.
Northwestern completed a weekend sweep on Sunday as it defeated 68th-ranked Indiana 6-1 thanks again in large part to Larner. She again teamed with Rooney for a convincing 6-2 win at No. 3 doubles and followed it up with another 7-6 (3), 6-0 win in the top singles spot, knocking off 90th-ranked Paula Gutierrez.
The Wildcats' two victories on the weekend improved them to 7-0 in Big Ten play and kept them in a tie for first place in the league standings alongside Michigan and Ohio State. Northwestern is ranked No. 40 in this week's ITA team rankings.
Meanwhile, Larner has a No. 82 national singles ranking this week. She has an 11-5 singles record in dual match play this season, including a perfect 7-0 mark against Big Ten foes.
Northwestern (9-8, 7-0 Big Ten) takes its unblemished league record on the road this week, traveling to Penn State on Friday and fifth-ranked Ohio State on Sunday.
It is the second such honor of her career. She previously earned the award on Jan. 27, 2015.
Larner received this week's honor based upon her efforts in the Wildcats' home wins over Purdue and Indiana last weekend. In Friday's match against the Boilermakers, she teamed with Jillian Rooney at No. 3 doubles as their pairing earned a victory in a tiebreaker -- 7-6 (4) -- in the decisive match to give Northwestern the doubles point. Larner then notched a straight-sets win at No. 1 singles, pulling away from Nicole Robinson for a 7-6 (3), 6-0 victory to help NU to a 7-0 win over Purdue.
Northwestern completed a weekend sweep on Sunday as it defeated 68th-ranked Indiana 6-1 thanks again in large part to Larner. She again teamed with Rooney for a convincing 6-2 win at No. 3 doubles and followed it up with another 7-6 (3), 6-0 win in the top singles spot, knocking off 90th-ranked Paula Gutierrez.
The Wildcats' two victories on the weekend improved them to 7-0 in Big Ten play and kept them in a tie for first place in the league standings alongside Michigan and Ohio State. Northwestern is ranked No. 40 in this week's ITA team rankings.
Meanwhile, Larner has a No. 82 national singles ranking this week. She has an 11-5 singles record in dual match play this season, including a perfect 7-0 mark against Big Ten foes.
Northwestern (9-8, 7-0 Big Ten) takes its unblemished league record on the road this week, traveling to Penn State on Friday and fifth-ranked Ohio State on Sunday.