Illinois and Northwestern Claim Women’s Tennis Weekly Honors

Player of the Week 
McKenna Schaefbauer, Illinois 
Sr. – Normal, Ill.  

• Began dual season with a 2-0 record in singles while securing the highest-ranked victory of her career with a 6-2, 3-6, 1-0 (7) win over No. 40 Na Dong of Baylor 
• A day earlier, Schaefbauer defeated Pepperdine’s Ziva Falkner in straight sets (6-4, 7-5) at No. 1 singles 
• Last Illinois Player of the Week: Kasia Treiber (Feb. 21, 2024) 

Freshman of the Week 
Margot Phanthala, Northwestern 
Paris, France 

• Went a combined 4-0 in the opening weekend of dual play, including a 3-0 record in singles, helping Northwestern to a 3-0 weekend as a team 
• Earned all three singles victories at No. 1 flight, dropping just 12 games total 
• Two singles victories came in straight sets: a 6-3, 6-1 victory against VCU in her first-ever dual match on Friday and a 6-0, 6-1 win against Temple on Saturday 
• Won in doubles on Friday, paired with Autumn Rabjohns to win 6-1 at the No. 3 position 
• Last Northwestern Freshman of the Week: Margot Phanthala (Oct. 15, 2025) 

2025-26 Big Ten Women’s Tennis Honorees 
Sept. 17 
P: Brianna Baldi, So., PSU 
F: Ameia Sorey, IND 
Sept. 24 
P: Ahmani Guichard, Jr., UCLA 
F: no selection  
Oct. 1 
Co-P: Teah Chavez, Jr., OSU 
Co-P: Maria Sholokhova, Sr., WIS 
Co-F: Krisha Mahendran, USC 
Co-F: Lucie Urbanova, WIS 
Oct. 8  
P: Hi’ilani Williams, Fr., IND 
F: Hadley Appling, ORE 
Oct. 15 
P: Maiko Uchijima, Sr., PSU 
F: Margot Phanthala, NU 
Oct. 22 
Co-P: Nao Nishino, So., OSU 
Co-P: Jana Hossam, So., USC 
F: Dani Borruel, USC  
Oct. 29 
P/F: Gabriella Lindgren, Fr., MICH 
Nov. 5 
P: Ellie Blackford, So., MSU 
F: no selection 
Nov. 12 
P: Erika Matsuda, Sr., WASH 
F: Mayu Crossley, UCLA 
Jan. 21 
P: McKenna Schaefbauer, Sr., ILL 
F: Margot Phanthala, NU