Photo by: Henry Frieman/Northwestern Athletics
Jessel Named to Big Ten All-Freshman Team
4/23/2025 10:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
EVANSTON, Ill. - Erica Jessel was selected to the 2025 Big Ten All-Freshman Team following an impressive first season of collegiate tennis, the conference announced Wednesday. Jessel was one of ten conference players to earn the honor in the award's inaugural season.
Playing primarily at the No. 1 position, Jessel held a 13-19 record in singles play in her first season in Evanston, including a 2-6 mark against conference opponents. Her run included upsets of then-No. 3 Julia Fliegner at Michigan and then-No. 84 Reece Carter against Washington. The performance this season saw her ranked as high as No. 122 in the ITA's national singles rankings, making Jessel the first Wildcat first-year to earn a national ranking since Maria Shusharina in 2021.
In doubles play, Jessel went 18-18 overall with partners Sydney Pratt, Mika Dagan Fruchtman and Kiley Rabjohns. Her doubles season was highlighted by a victory over Anastasiia Lopata and Guillermina Grant - now ranked No. 81 by the ITA - in the 'Cats' matchup with No. 1 Georgia.
Following a 3-0 weekend against UIC and Milwaukee, Jessel was named Big Ten Women's Tennis Freshman of the Week on February 19. Playing at No. 1 singles for the first time in her collegiate career, she became the first-ever Wildcat to be named Freshman of the Week after the award was created this January.
Also among postseason award winners for Northwestern was graduate student Britany Lau, who earned the Sportsmanship Award for her excellence on the court and as a teammate.
Jessel, Lau and the Wildcats are set to open their Big Ten Tournament this afternoon, when they will face off with No. 7 seed Illinois in a first-round matchup in Ojai, Calif. First serve between the two teams is scheduled for 5 p.m. CT and all courts can be streamed on B1G+.
Playing primarily at the No. 1 position, Jessel held a 13-19 record in singles play in her first season in Evanston, including a 2-6 mark against conference opponents. Her run included upsets of then-No. 3 Julia Fliegner at Michigan and then-No. 84 Reece Carter against Washington. The performance this season saw her ranked as high as No. 122 in the ITA's national singles rankings, making Jessel the first Wildcat first-year to earn a national ranking since Maria Shusharina in 2021.
In doubles play, Jessel went 18-18 overall with partners Sydney Pratt, Mika Dagan Fruchtman and Kiley Rabjohns. Her doubles season was highlighted by a victory over Anastasiia Lopata and Guillermina Grant - now ranked No. 81 by the ITA - in the 'Cats' matchup with No. 1 Georgia.
Following a 3-0 weekend against UIC and Milwaukee, Jessel was named Big Ten Women's Tennis Freshman of the Week on February 19. Playing at No. 1 singles for the first time in her collegiate career, she became the first-ever Wildcat to be named Freshman of the Week after the award was created this January.
Also among postseason award winners for Northwestern was graduate student Britany Lau, who earned the Sportsmanship Award for her excellence on the court and as a teammate.
Jessel, Lau and the Wildcats are set to open their Big Ten Tournament this afternoon, when they will face off with No. 7 seed Illinois in a first-round matchup in Ojai, Calif. First serve between the two teams is scheduled for 5 p.m. CT and all courts can be streamed on B1G+.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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