Niltooli Wilkins Named SoCon Women's Tennis Player of the Week

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - UNCG's Niltooli Wilkins (Burnsville, Minn./homeschooled) has been named the Southern Conference Women's Tennis Player of the Week for all matches played February 18-24.  Wilkins, the Southern Conference Player of the Year in 2012, picked up two singles wins last week and went 1-1 in doubles competition.

Wilkins is 3-2 at No. 1 singles with her only losses against Gina Suarez-Malaguti (No. 7) from North Carolina and Joelle Kissell (No. 40) from N.C. State. Wilkins picked up two victories at No. 1 singles against Long Beach State's Klaudia Malenovska, 7-5, 6-3 and Western Carolina's Stacia Kissell, 6-3, 6-1.

As a team the Spartans opened conference play with a 7-0 sweep against Western Carolina as Wilkins won in both singles and doubles.

The Burnsville, Minn., native teamed with Alex Whitehead at No. 1 doubles and went 1-1 last week.  UNCG's tandem fell 8-3 to Sarah Cantlay and Malenovska but rebounded for an 8-0 victory over WCU's Nicole Nielly and Shannon Bettiol.

UNCG returns to the courts Friday, when the Spartans visit Marshall at 4 p.m.

Other top performers in the Southern Conference included Appalachian State's Ellie Linsell, Davidson's Elaina Cummer, Elon's Jordan Johnston, Chattanooga's Kayla Jones, Western Carolina's Stannon Bettiol and Wofford's Julia Paulson. 

SoCon Women's Tennis Player of the Week
Feb. 12 - Jenna Nurik, UTC
Feb. 19 - Kristin Lewis, SAM
Feb. 26 - Niltooli Wilkins, UNCG