Contact: Drew Sauer, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324

CCIW Press Release

Sept. 4, 2019 – In the first installment of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Player of the Week awards of the season, North Central College women's tennis player Alaina Kanthaphixay was honored this week after leading the Cardinals to a pair of victories to open the season.

Kanthaphixay went 4-0 on the week, teaming up with Hannah Hougland at the No. 1 doubles position as the pair picked up where they left off last season after setting the program's single-season wins record. 

In the season opener against Wartburg College (Iowa) on Aug. 31, the duo cruised to a 8-2 win over Hannah Fox and Madison Overmann, while Kanthaphixay clinched the team win with a 6-2, 6-3 win at No. 2 singles over Overmann.

In the nightcap shutout over Concordia University Wisconsin, Kanthaphixay and Hougland fought out a 8-6 win at No. 1 doubles over Ricki Budewitz and Elizabeth Johnson, while Kanthaphixay proceeded to roll Johnson, 6-0, 6-1 at the No. 2 singles spot.

This marks the fourth-straight season a Cardinal has received the weekly award and is the second career honor for Kanthaphixay, also earning the award on Sept. 26, 2018.

North Central returns to the court this evening, beginning a stretch of five-straight CCIW matches, hosting Carroll University at Nike Park with matches scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

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