May 19, 2007

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Highlighted by the Midwest Region Assistant Coach of the Year honor for David Mullins, the Wildcats earned three Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) awards for the 2006-07 season. Freshman Samantha Murray (Altrincham, England/Altrincham Grammar) was named the region's Rookie Player of the Year and sophomore Georgia Rose (Mettawa, Ill./North Shore Country Day) received the nod as the region's Player to Watch.

All regional award winners are finalists for national awards that will be handed out on May 22 in Athens, Ga.

Mullins is in his second season as assistant coach for the Wildcats under head coach Claire Pollard. This year, the Wildcats earned a program-best No. 5 seed in the NCAA Championships and ended the regular season ranked fifth in the nation. NU finished the season with a 23-5 record and earned a record-tying ninth-straight Big Ten title.

Murray, the reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year, anchored the No. 2 singles spot in her first season as a Wildcat, posting a 11-8 record. Murray and doubles partner Alexis Conill (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Cardinal Gibbons) had an impressive dual campaign, going 15-3 in the No. 3 doubles spot.

Rose, the Big Ten Player of the Year, ended the dual season with a 16-2 record at No. 1 and Rose and doubles partner Alexis Prousis (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest) ended the dual campaign with an 18-3 record at No. 1.

The ITA Player to Watch Award goes to a player who has an outstanding season and is expected to perform at a high level the rest of his or her career. This award's criteria also includes a player's sportsmanship and character.

In singles, Rose and Murray will represent Northwestern in the NCAA singles tournament and Rose and Prousis will make a run at a doubles championship starting on May 23. By virtue of her ranking at the end of the regular season, Rose as already garnered All-America status.

For the complete list of regional award winners, visit the ITA Website.