Northwestern University Athletics
Trio Of Wildcats Claim All-Big Ten Honors
4/26/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
April 26, 2012
PARK RIDGE, Ill. -- Three student-athletes from Northwestern Big Ten Regular Season Champion women's tennis team earned All-Big Ten honors when the conference announced its annual awards at the Big Ten Tournament banquet in Columbus, Ohio Thursday night.
Northwestern's three All-Big Ten selections have earned the distinction for the second time in their respective careers. Junior Kate Turvy is a unanimous First Team selection, where she is joined this season by sophomore Belinda Niu. Turvy's classmate, Brittany Wowchuk, also notched Second Team honors for the second straight season.
Turvy, NU's No. 1 singles player in 2012, paced the squad with 16 wins overall in dual matches including eight in Big Ten play. Turvy won nine times against nationally-rated foes with key victories coming against the conference's Athlete of the Year, Mary Weatherholt. Turvy also knocked off the Freshman of the Year, Emina Bektas of Michigan, in straight sets on April 8. The win helped propel the 'Cats over the Wolverines that day, 4-3.
Joining Turvy on the First Team is sophomore standout Belinda Niu. Niu, who spent the majority of her time on the No. 2 line, won 13 times overall this spring with seven Big Ten wins to her credit. Niu also paired with Turvy to form a formidable doubles duo. The pair posted 14 wins in dual play, eight more than the next closest doubles tandem on the roster.
For the second year in a row, Wowchuk played well enough to earn a spot on the All-Big Ten Second Team. The Toronto, native won 15 matches this spring and posted a near-perfect mark of 10-1 at the No. 3 position. Recently, Wowchuk has teamed up with Nida Hamilton to win six straight doubles matches to close out the regular season.
The newest Wildcat, Veronica Corning, also picked up the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award Thursday. The transfer from Boston College opened up Big Ten play with six consecutive triumphs this spring and finished the regular season with a team-high nine wins in conference play.
In addition to Weatherholt and Bektas, other Big Ten award winners Thursday included co-Coaches of the Year, Ronni Bernstein of Michigan and Scott Jacobson of Nebraska.
The Wildcats will open up the 2012 Big Ten Tournament on Friday, April 27 at 9 a.m. against Ohio State. The host Buckeyes, the 8th seed, edged No. 9 Penn State earlier Thursday, 4-2.
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