EVANSTON, Ill. (April 26, 2023) – Maria Shusharina (Moscow, Russia/GBOU School No. 118) and Justine Leong (Hong Kong/Diocesan Girls’ School/Claremont McKenna College), both members of the Northwestern women’s tennis team, have garnered sports on the Big Ten Women’s Tennis All-Conference teams, which were announced on Wednesday by the league office. This marks the 29th straight season that multiple Wildcats have been honored by the Big Ten.
Now a three-time All-Big Ten honoree for her career, Shusharina closed the regular season with an 8-7 record in dual action that included an impressive 5-1 mark in Big Ten Conference play. The Moscow, Russia native enters the postseason having rattled off four straight singles wins. Shusharina, who posted an 8-6 ledger in doubles play, is the 18th student-athlete in program history to be honored as a three-time All-Big Ten selection.
Earning the first All-Big Ten nod of her career, Leong was a force in doubles play for head coach Claire Pollard‘s team, going 14-3 overall and 5-1 against Big Ten opposition. The Hong Kong native played alongside Christina Hand in 12 contests, putting up an impressive 11-1 record as the duo currently finds itself ranked 56th nationally by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA). Leong added nine wins in singles play, none bigger than a 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 upset of No. 100 Ashley Yeah (Illinois) on March 10 that saw her tabbed the Big Ten Conference Player of the Week.
In addition to the All-Big Ten Teams, the conference also announced its 14 Sportsmanship Award Honorees, with sophomore Kiley Rabjohns (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest) taking home the accolade.
Fifth-seeded Northwestern (11-12, 7-4 B1G) begins play in the Big Ten Women’s Tennis Tournament on Thursday, April 27 at 11 a.m. (CT) in West Lafayette, Ind. The Wildcats will battle the winner of the opening-round matchup featuring No. 12 Michigan State and No. 13 Rutgers.
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