Shannon Mathews' week was highlighted by her first career victory at No. 1 singles on Sunday against Maryland.

Shannon Mathews Named BIG EAST Women's Tennis Player Of The Week

Jan. 31, 2012

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Shannon Mathews, a senior on the University of Notre Dame women’s tennis team, has been named BIG EAST Women’s Tennis Player of the Week, it was announced by the league Tuesday. The Birmingham, Mich., native posted a 2-0 record in singles on the week, while going 1-1 in doubles action against 35th-ranked Yale and 40th-ranked Maryland.

Mathews got her weekend off on the right foot against Yale on Saturday with a victory at No. 1 doubles along with partner Kristy Frilling (Sidney, Ohio), while also earning a straight-sets victory at No. 2 singles. The Irish pairing, ranked fifth nationally, took down the 16th-ranked duo of Vicky Brook and Hanna Yu, 8-5, before Mathews knocked off Blair Seideman 6-0, 6-4 in singles action.

In Sunday’s match against Maryland, Mathews made her debut on the season at the No. 1 singles court, earning her first career victory at that position over 26th-ranked Cristina Stancu, 6-2, 6-4. The win helped the Irish preserve a perfect 7-0 victory over the Terrapins and also improved Mathews to a flawless 5-0 mark in singles dual matches that has yet to see her drop a set.

Mathews and the Irish, currently 4-1 and ranked 21st in the nation, return to the courts Friday as they square off with Tennessee in Knoxville at 4:00 p.m. (ET), before heading to Nashville for a meeting with Vanderbilt on Sunday at Noon.

–ND–