TEMPE, Ariz. -- Northeastern State's Maria Popova has been named Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) and Universal Tennis Rating (UTR) Player of the Week for NCAA Division II Women's Tennis Wednesday afternoon. 

The ITA UTR Player of the Week honors a collegiate tennis player whose increase in UTR rating throughout the previous week was indicative of her high level of performance, including notable wins such as clinching matches and upsets.

Thanks to wins in four straight singles matches, Popova's UTR rating increased 0.25 to 7.44, and she was credited with clinching match wins at Cameron and vs. Seward Community College. 

Popova is the first NSU women's tennis athlete to earn this distinction from the ITA and UTR. 

Northeastern State will open MIAA play at home this Friday with Northwest Missouri.