April 26, 2011
IRVING, Texas - Baylor junior Sona Novakova was named the Big 12 Player of the week on Tuesday, after helping lead Baylor's women's tennis team to their seventh consecutive conference regular season title, as announced by league officials. Novakova becomes Baylor's third league player of the week honoree of the season.
Novakova, now ranked No. 11 in the NCAA in singles, had a perfect week going 2-0 in both singles and doubles, while beating two ranked singles opponents. The Slapanice, Czech Republic, native won both of her singles matches in straight sets and battled to two 9-7 doubles wins with partner Diana Nakic.
Playing the Lady Bears' No. 1 singles position, Novakova helped lead Baylor to a 5-2 win over No. 30 Texas A&M with a win over 30th-ranked Nazari Urbina, 6-1, 6-3 on Wednesday. In doubles, Novakova and Nakic defeated defeated the Aggies' team of Urbina and Olivier.
The next day, Baylor claimed the Big 12 title outright with a 6-1 win over Texas Tech. Novakova was solid again, defeating 121st-ranked Elizabeth Ullathorne 6-4, 6-4, in singles and Ullathorne and Haley Fornier in doubles.
The wins improved Baylor's team win streak to 12 matches heading into the Big 12 Championship, and also moved Novakova into the team lead in both singles victories with 28 and doubles victories with 23.
Novakova joins Nina Secerbegovic as Baylor's league player of the week honorees this season. Secerbegovic earned the award on two occasions, March 22 and April 12.
Baylor, ranked No. 7 in the nation according to this week's Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings, will be in action as the No. 1 seed in the Big 12 Championships in Waco, Texas. The Lady Bears will take on the winner of Missouri and Oklahoma State on Friday, April 29 at 6 p.m.
