Womens tennis player Liina Suurvarik of Illinois State was selected as the Prairie Farms/Missouri Valley Conference Female Scholar-Athlete of the Week for the period of Sept. 22-28 as announced by the Missouri Valley Conference Thursday.
A senior from Tallin, Estonia, Suurvarik went undefeated at the 2003 Polo Tennis National College Preview in Tulsa, Okla., on Sept. 28. Suurvarik, who carries a cumulative 3.91 grade-point average in international business, played in the Flight A singles competition and posted her third victory of the weekend against Tulsas Daniela Muscolino, 7-6, 6-7, 6-3 on Sunday.
Liina has been stepping up big already this fall, womens tennis head coach Chris Hoover said. The way she is able to keep up with her grades and still play at the level she plays at says something about how hard she is working.
The Valleys Scholar-Athlete program, which is sponsored by Prairie Farms, Roberts and Hiland Dairies, honors conference student-athletes for their athletic performance for a one-week period and academic success in the classroom. The program began during the 1999-00 academic year.
To qualify for Prairie Farms/Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Week recognition, student-athletes must carry a cumulative grade-point average of 3.00, completed at least one academic year at a Valley institution and must be at least a sophomore in academic standing. In addition to the academic qualifications, student-athletes will be evaluated on their athletic performance for a one-week period.
