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Western Illinois University Athletics

Athlete Awards

Scholar Athlete of the Month

Maria Bessmertnaya

  • Award
    Scholar Athlete of the Month
  • Week Of
    10/3/2016
  • Sport
    Women's Tennis
  • Bio
    View Full Bio
Women's tennis player Maria Bessmertnaya has been selected as this week's WIU Hampton Inn Scholar Athlete of the Week on Oct. 3.

Over the weekend, Bessmertnaya helped Western to two 7-0 victories over Knox College and Judson University. Against Knox, Bessmertnaya teamed up with Nicole Jones for a 6-1 victory in No. 3 doubles. In No. 4 singles, Bessmertnaya beat her opponent 6-1, 6-0.

Against Judson, she and Jones won 8-3 in No. 3 doubles. In singles play, she picked up a 6-0, 6-0 sweep.

The Pyatigorsk, Russia, native boasts a 4.0 GPA and is majoring in pre-business and accounting. Bessmertnaya and the rest of the women's tennis team will be back in action on Oct. 7-8 at the Warhawk Invitational.


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Date Athlete Sport
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9/12/2024 Hannah Steinmeyer Women's Cross Country
9/12/2024 Grant Palmer Baseball
4/29/2024 Isabel Navas Rodriguez Women's Soccer
3/22/2024 Raven Morrison Softball
3/22/2024 Caden Kratz Baseball
2/21/2024 Drew Cisse Men's Basketball
2/21/2024 Addi Brownfield Women's Basketball
1/19/2024 Aylana Cezar Women's Cross Country
1/19/2024 Sean Hudspath Men's Track and Field
12/5/2023 Ryan Merklinger Football
12/5/2023 Maggie Craker Women's Volleyball
10/31/2023 Kennedy Bauer Women's Volleyball
10/31/2023 Ben Nauman Football
9/12/2023 Liam Gainey Men's Soccer
9/12/2023 Elise Bush Women's Soccer
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