Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Valparaiso University's Rachel Janssen (Fort Wayne, Ind./Dwenger H.S.) earned her second straight Mid-Continent Conference Athlete of the Week honor as well as her fourth league award this season.

The Crusader senior has now earned the accolade 11 times during her career with the Brown and Gold.

Janssen had a solid spring trip for the Crusaders, posting a 3-1 mark during the week in both singles and doubles play. In singles action, she defeated opponents from Long Island and Manhattan in straight sets while also downing Fairleigh Dickinson, winning 6-3 in the third set. Playing first singles for Valpo, Janssen's lone singles loss came in her second match of the final day, dropping a tie-break for the third set to Florida Gulf Coast.

In doubles action, she dropped her first match of the week to Long Island before combining for three straight wins playing with Kate Evangelist (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West H.S.) and Kim Sajevic (Woodbury, Minn./Woodbury H.S.).

Valparaiso (6-7) will return to action at the Valparaiso University Tennis Complex on March 28 as the Crusaders host Chicago State beginning at 3 p.m.