WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Henrik Villanger of the Purdue men's tennis team was named Big Ten Player of the Week following the team's wins against No. 32 Boise State and Illinois State. It is the first career honor for the Oslo, Norway, native.
The ranked win, which was the team's most dominant victory over a top-32 team in 11 years, propelled the Boilermakers to rank No. 44 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association national rankings, the program's highest ranking since 2016.
Villanger, a sophomore, took care of business at the No. 3 singles position in both matches, picking up a 6-4, 6-1 win vs. Boise State's Julius Seifert and 6-4, 6-1 vs. Illinois State's Tin Ostro. With the wins, the sophomore improves to a 7-1 singles record this spring, including 4-0 at the No. 3 position.
Meanwhile, in doubles, Villanger remains undefeated at 4-0 behind the point-clinching 6-3 win against Boise State's pairing and a 6-2 win against Illinois State's.
He is the first Boilermaker honored since March 2024. In all, Villanger joins elite company, becoming the 10th Boilermaker to receiving the Big Ten Player of the Week accolade.
One non-conference match remains for the Boilermakers. Next weekend, Purdue will take on Butler on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET before beginning Big Ten play on the road the following week out west (at USC on Saturday, March 8 and at UCLA on Sunday, March 9).
The ranked win, which was the team's most dominant victory over a top-32 team in 11 years, propelled the Boilermakers to rank No. 44 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association national rankings, the program's highest ranking since 2016.
Villanger, a sophomore, took care of business at the No. 3 singles position in both matches, picking up a 6-4, 6-1 win vs. Boise State's Julius Seifert and 6-4, 6-1 vs. Illinois State's Tin Ostro. With the wins, the sophomore improves to a 7-1 singles record this spring, including 4-0 at the No. 3 position.
Meanwhile, in doubles, Villanger remains undefeated at 4-0 behind the point-clinching 6-3 win against Boise State's pairing and a 6-2 win against Illinois State's.
He is the first Boilermaker honored since March 2024. In all, Villanger joins elite company, becoming the 10th Boilermaker to receiving the Big Ten Player of the Week accolade.
One non-conference match remains for the Boilermakers. Next weekend, Purdue will take on Butler on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET before beginning Big Ten play on the road the following week out west (at USC on Saturday, March 8 and at UCLA on Sunday, March 9).