Feb. 26, 2004

Chicago, Ill.- University of Illinois at Chicago senior Ayca Gumuscu (Ankara, Turkey) and freshman Artsem Burmistrau (Minsk, Belarus) were named the Horizon League Tennis Athletes of the Week, the league office announced Wednesday.

Gumuscu continued her strong start to 2004 with a win against Ball State's Jenny Batty, 7-6(1), 7-5, at No. 2 singles on Saturday. The senior is now 4-1 in dual meet matches this spring and 10-7 overall.

Gumuscu's win on Saturday marked her fourth straight singles win. She also contributed to UIC's best doubles performance against Ball State, teaming with Iris Jaklin to beat Jill Wieman and Jessica Thompson, 8-4.

Burmistrau, in his first year for the Flames, won two of his three No. 1 singles matches over the weekend, easily defeating Toledo's Khalid Al Nabhani, 6-2, 6-2, this past Saturday and Ferris State's Francisco Valencia, 6-1, 6-2, on Sunday.

Burmistrau is now 5-1 in singles action at the top spot this season.

The honor is Burmistrau's second Athlete of the Week award this season, winning his first on February 11th.

The UIC men's tennis team returns to action this Saturday, February 28th for a home match against Creighton at the Hinsdale Racket Courts, while the women's team hosts Butler at the UIC Indoor Courts at Bally's in Hyde Park this Friday.