The first two weeks of the 2008 season began the same way for No. 7 Northwestern – with a Wildcats women’s tennis player being named Big Ten Athlete of the Week. Freshman Maria Mosolova, ranked second in the nation, won the award Wednesday after contributing to NU’s dominant 7-0 victory over No. 15 William & Mary. Sophomore Samantha Murray earned the award for the third time in her career last week, but the honor came as no surprise. Murray is ranked 20th nationally in singles and seventh in doubles with partner Lauren Lui but will be put to the test when the Cats play at New Mexico on Sunday.Murray, an Altrincham, England native, grew up in a family of tennis players and started playing at age five. She has a younger sister who also plays and two older brothers who played at Bath University in England. “My older brothers played, (and) I always watched them and wanted to play,” she said. Although Murray also played field hockey and rounders – an English game resembling softball – in high school, she has always considered tennis her top priority and traveled throughout England to play. She most notably played in the Junior Wimbledon and participated in junior ITF events.When she had to choose a college team, NU and seemed to be a perfect fit. Coach Claire Pollard, who is also a native of England, had Murray “on her radar” because one of her best friends in England coached Murray. Murray, who knew she wanted to go to school in America, turned down offers from English universities such as Durham, Leeds and Bath to play for NU. Looking at both academic and tennis rankings in the U.S., Murray notes that “NU was the only one that combined the two.”The transition from playing individually in England to being on a collegiate team in the U.S. was not easy. “For the first couple of months, it was quite a bit of change,” Murray said. “I was not used to a team environment – the hardest part was adapting to playing for a team. But it made the game a lot more fun, and it gave me more of a goal, playing for your teammates.”Despite the obstacles, Murray adjusted in a convincing fashion. She was named 2007 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, ITA Midwest Region Rookie Player of the Year and a selection to the All-Big Ten Team. She qualified for the NCAA singles tournament and finished the regular season as the nation’s No. 38 singles player. This fall, she went 10-1 in singles and 9-1 in doubles. She is undefeated in the first two weeks of the 2008 season.Murray brings not only athleticism and a strong work ethic, but a fun personality as well.”She has got a very English dry sense of humor, so of course I really enjoy it,” Pollard said. “She has these great one-liners which we all really enjoy and appreciate. And her intelligence really comes out through her humor.”Murray said she is especially excited for the season, noting the team is “realizing what we can do this year, and what we are capable of this season.” She has also set high goals for herself, working toward becoming an All-American. “Her best tennis is still ahead of her, which is really exciting for the program and for her.” Pollard said. “She is one of our unsung heroes who comes in every day and works hard. She has the goal of being an All-American and it is definitely an attainable goal.”

Reach Jessie Cai at [email protected].