IRVING — For the third time this season, North Texas sophomore Maria Kononova was named Conference USA Women’s Tennis Athlete of the Week.

The ITA’s No. 82 ranked player defeated two ranked opponents this past week in singles to improve her season record to 11-3 on the year. On Wednesday on the road, Kononova cruised past TCU’s No. 66 ranked singles player in straight sets with a 6-4, 6-4 win. On Sunday, Kononova beat the No. 117 ranked Giulia Guidetti of Wichita State, 6-3, 7-5.

She was the only C-USA women’s tennis player to beat a ranked opponent this past week. She has now defeated four ranked opponents this season. 

 In doubles, she and her partner Tamuna Kutubidze defeated Wichita State’s No. 1 team 6-1 on Sunday to improve to 10-0 on the year.  

Kononova has now won the conference’s weekly award five times. She won it twice last year as a freshman. 

Kononova has already won more singles matches this season than all of last year. She won nine straight matches from Jan. 28 to Feb. 25. She will likely face another ranked opponent on Sunday when the Mean Green host the University of Kansas at noon. 

With this week’s honor, Kononova has now been named C-USA Women’s Tennis Athlete of the Week more times this season than anyone else.