ROSEMONT, Ill. – Freshman Kate Fakih of the UCLA women's tennis team, who is in the midst of a run at the ITA All-American Championships, earned the first Big Ten Player of the Week award in program history Wednesday.

A native of Pasadena, Calif., Fakih debuted as a Bruin in the prequalifying rounds of singles play. She immediately made her presence felt, winning three matches in two days – including a 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 decision over No. 123 Anna Zhang of Wake Forest – to make the qualifying stage.

In qualifying, Fakih knocked off two more nationally-ranked foes, besting No. 68 Lucciana Perez of Texas A&M 6-3, 7-6(1) and No. 108 Gabriella Broadfoot of NC State 5-7, 6-4, 6-4. Fakih starts main-draw action Monday.

She also teamed with fellow first-year standout Olivia Center to beat No. 69 Heike Janse Van Vuuren/Gracie Mulville of Kansas 6-1, 4-6, 1-0(7) in doubles qualifying.