Northwestern University Athletics
NU Announces Hilton Garden Inn Athletes of the Week
3/8/2010 12:00:00 AM | General
March 8, 2010
Winter Sports Weekly Release #13 -- PDF Format 
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Wildcat freshmen Sidarth Balaji (Fairfax, Va./Fairfax) of the men's tennis team and Alicia Gurrieri (Medford, N.J./Moorestown Friends) of the fencing team have been named NU's Hilton Garden Inn Athletes of the Week for their performances over the weekend.
Balaji was the only Wildcat to post singles wins in each of Northwestern's matches this weekend against No. 12 Illinois and No. 13 Louisville. Against the Illini, Balaji came back after a first-set loss to grind out a win in tiebreakers in the second before claiming the decisive set 6-4. Balaji, who has played every spot in the singles lineup from No. 1 through No. 5, then defeated Alejandro Calligari of Louisville in straight sets Sunday at No. 4.
Gurrieri, the No. 2 seed in sabre, knocked off top-seeded Allison Miller of Ohio State 15-11 to take home the weapon's individual gold, highlighting the opening day of competition at the Midwest Conference Championships. Gurrieri was undefeated in pool play and a perfect 11-0 on the day en route to capturing NU's first individual conference gold in the sabre since Kate Frambach in 2000.
This week's Community Service Athlete of the Week is sophomore Brittany Orban (North Canton, Ohio/Hoover) of the women's basketball team. Orban and seven other student-athletes read to students at Park School in Evanston as part of the Read Across America program commemorating Dr. Seuss' birthday on Thursday. The Park School is focused on needs of students who have learning and/or physical challenges.
The complete Winter Sports Weekly Release #13 is available in PDF format at the top of the page.
