DALLAS, Texas – FIU women's tennis' Ekaterina Khairutdinova was named the Conference USA Player of the Week presented by Blenders Eyewear, as announced by the league office on Wednesday. The nod marks the first for Khairutdinova in her first year with the Panthers.
 
Khairutdinova, a native of Krasnodar, Russia, collected a pair of ranked wins in just her third career dual match with the Panthers to help lift FIU to a top-25 win over No. 18 UCLA, 4-1, in last Sunday's ITA Kickoff Consolation in Coral Gables.
 
After falling to No. 10 Miami in Saturday's ITA Kickoff Weekend opener, the freshman helped pace FIU to a bounce-back win on Sunday starting with a ranked doubles win at the top spot alongside Kamila Umarova to clinch the doubles point, dropping the Bruins' 11^th-ranked tandem of Kimmi Hance and Elise Wagle. Khairutdinova then notched FIU's first singles win at No. 2 singles to spark the rally, picking up a top-50 win in straight sets over UCLA's No. 46 Hance, 6-3, 6-0, en route to the 4-1 victory.
 
Khairutdinova currently sits 2-1 on the year in singles at the No. 2 position, while remaining unbeaten with a top-15 win in doubles at 2-0.
 
UP NEXT
FIU returns to action for its home opener on Saturday, Feb. 11, as the Panthers welcome North Florida to the FIU Tennis Courts. First serve is slated for a 12 p.m. start.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Instagram (@FIUWTENNIS), Twitter (@FIUWTENNIS), and Facebook (Facebook.com\FIUWTN) for all the latest Women's Tennis news.
 
General athletic news can also be found at @FIUSports on Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.