Northwestern University Athletics
Cristelle Grier Is Big Ten Player of the Year
5/1/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
May 1, 2003
EVANSTON, Ill. - Freshman Cristelle Grier has put together arguably the most remarkable season in Northwestern women's tennis history, and on May 1 she was rewarded when the Big Ten announced the all-conference team and postseason honors.
Grier, who spent the entire dual-match spring playing No. 1 for the Wildcats, was named the Big Ten Player of the Year as well as the Big Ten Freshman of the Year. She is just the second player to sweep the two postseason honors in the same season since the Freshman of the Year award was started in 1988 -- Deb Edelman of Indiana recorded the double in 1990.
Grier led the Wildcats to their fifth straight Big Ten Tournament title after they finished second in the conference standings during the regular season. Grier finished the season with a 33-6 overall match record; however, she was perfect this spring, going 23-0 in dual matches including wins in all 10 of her Big Ten matches. Currently, Grier is listed ninth nationally in the latest Omni Hotels Collegiate Tennis Rankings.
The 16th-ranked Wildcats (19-8, 8-2 Big Ten) are preparing to host an NCAA regional for the third year in a row the weekend of May 10-11 in Evanston.
Grier is the third NU player in history to be named Big Ten Player of the Year; Katherine Nasser won the honor in 1998, while Marine Piriou captured the honor last spring. Grier is also the fourth Wildcat player to be named Freshman of the Year after Piriou (2000), Nasser (1997) and Siri Eklund (1993).
Two Wildcats joined Grier on the All-Big Ten Team. Junior Jessica Rush was named to the team for the second year in a row. This season Rush played primarily in the No. 2 position and compiled a 19-4 record at that spot; like Grier, she was a perfect 10-0 in Big Ten matches during the regular season. Currently, Rush is ranked 75th nationally. Freshman Jamie Peisel, who went 18-6 in dual matches this spring including 8-2 in the Big Ten, was also named to the 12-member team.
In addition to their standout singles play, Rush and Grier are also the sixth-ranked doubles team in the nation.
This marks the second year in a row Northwestern has had three players named All-Big Ten. Three schools had two players named (Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin) while three others had one player named (Iowa, Michigan, Ohio State).
The Big Ten Coach of the Year was shared this year, as Tyler Thomson of regular-season champion Minnesota and Mat Iandolo of Purdue were both named.
The 2003 All-Big Ten Women's Tennis Team
Jennifer McGaffigan, Illinois
Tiffany Eklov, Illinois
Steffi Hoch, Iowa
Michelle DaCosta, Michigan
Angela Buergis, Minnesota
Valeria Vladea, Minnesota
Cristelle Grier, NU
Jessica Rush, NU
Jamie Peisel, NU
Sadhaf Pervez, Ohio State
Linde Mues, Wisconsin
Shana McElroy, Wisconsin
Big Ten Player of the Year
Cristelle Grier, NU
Big Ten Freshman of the Year
Cristelle Grier, NU
Big Ten Coaches of the Year
Tyler Thomson, Minnesota
Mat Iandolo, Purdue
