Senior Leigh Ann Merryman garnered Big Ten Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week honors this week after a superb performance during Penn State's spring break trip to Florida. This award marks her first career Athlete of the Week honor.

Merryman began her remarkable week with a convincing 6-4, 6-0 win over Ana Maslesa of Temple in the No. 1 singles match. In the same dual, she teamed up with fellow veteran Megan Marton for an 8-2 win over Maslesa and Laura Selverling in the No. 1 doubles contest. In Penn State's battle with No. 53 Florida State, Merryman scored the Nittany Lions' lone point with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 victory over Anca Dumitrescu in the top singles slot. She once again made it a perfect outing, as she and Marton edged out Mihaela Moldovan and Roxanne Clarke, 8-6, in the No. 1 doubles match against the Seminoles. Merryman rounded out her successful spring break trip with a hard-fought 7-5, 4-6, (10-4) singles win over Julie Pecastaing of No. 73 Central Florida.

Competing at No. 1 singles, Merryman is 13-10 overall and 7-6 in dual meet action for her senior campaign. Her dual meet singles record is tied for best on the team among players who have competed in at least seven matches.