4/14- Megan Fudge Named Big Ten Tennis Player of the Week

Fudge Named Big Ten Player of the Week Illinois Junior Leads to Team to Tie for Second Place in Big Ten PARK RIDGE, Ill. – Illinois junior Megan Fudge of the No. 36 Illinois women’s tennis team was named Big Ten Player of the Week for the week ending April 12, the conference office announced on Tuesday. Fudge led the Illini charge this weekend, launching the Illini into a tie for second place in the Big Ten, with two key conference wins over Ohio State and Penn State. Fudge went 3-0 in singles and 2-1 in doubles over the course of the week. The Illini junior began the week with an upset win over 35th-ranked Kelcy Tefft of No. 4 Notre Dame. The 108th-ranked Fudge was almost unstoppable in her comeback in the second and third sets at No. 1 singles, taking the match 2-6, 6-4, 1-0 (11-9) for the victory. Fudge notched another win in No. 36-ranked Illinois hard-fought, 5-2 triumph over the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Kaarst, Germany native battled hard at No.1 singles, pulling through for a 2-6, 6-4, 6-0 win over Ohio States Kirsten Flower. Fudge rounded out the week with a dominating straight sets’ 6-2, 6-1 win over Penn States Denisa Zobeideh at No. 2 singles. The victory over Zobeideh was Fudges 25th overall singles victory of the season, the most wins she has recorded in a single season at Illinois in her career. In dual matches, Fudge is 19-2. Fudge and the Illini conclude the regular season at home this weekend as they welcome Michigan State (4/18) and Michigan (4/19) into town. Illinois will honor lone senior Shivani Davé before Sundays match against the Wolverines. First serve at both matches is set for 12 p.m. CT.