Kentucky senior All-American Aibika Kalsarieva has been selected as the Southeastern Conference Women?s Tennis Player of the Week after another solid weekend on the hard courts.
Kalsarieva, a native of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, remained perfect in SEC play over the weekend, picking up four wins at No. 1 singles and doubles. Her come-from-behind victory at No. 1 singles over South Carolina?s Danielle Wiggins clinched UK?s 4-3 win over the Gamecocks in Columbia after the Cats trailed by a 3-1 margin. Kalsarieva scored two top-10 wins Sunday against Florida, defeating 10th-ranked Jennifer Magley in straight sets at No. 1 singles and the 10th-ranked tandem of Magley and Zerene Reyes at No. 1 doubles, helping Kentucky to its first-ever win over No. 2 Florida. She is unbeaten in her last 11 singles matches ? all at No. 1 singles with nine wins over ranked opponents ? and has won seven-consecutive doubles matches, four over ranked opponents, with partner Sarah Foster.
Kalsarieva sports a 12-2 record at No. 1 singles with her only losses coming to top-five opponents Julie Coin of Clemson and Audra Cohen of Northwestern. She also holds a 12-2 record at No. 1 doubles with the aforementioned Foster.
Kalsarieva, who transferred to Kentucky last season after playing two seasons at Lewis-Clark State of the NAIA, became the first Wildcat to advance to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Singles Championships in 2004. She holds Nos. 8 and 6 singles and doubles rankings, respectively, putting her on pace to earn her second singles All-America selection and first doubles All-America honor.
Kalsarieva is the second Wildcat to receive the SEC Player of the Week award this season. Sophomore Kim Coventry earned a selection in January.