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Junior 2010-11
Won 11 singles matches, including three in Big Ten play and two over nationally ranked opponents ... Collected 14 doubles victories, with 10 coming alongside teammate Breanne Smutko ... Duo reached as high as No. 55 in the national rankings ... Missed the final 10 singles matches of the season due to injury...Academic All-Big Ten.
Sophomore 2009-10
Secured her second straight 20-win season with 21 including a 7-2 mark in Big Ten play ... Played primarily at Nos. 5 and 6 singles ... Notched her first career win over a nationally ranked opponent with a two-set victory over No. 117 Nazari Urbina of Texas A&M ... Tallied a new career-best mark in doubles with 21 ... Teamed up with Rachael White to go 10-5 overall ... Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
Freshman 2008-09
Finished the season with a 26-19 singles record ... Played primarily at the Nos. 3 and 4 singles spots ... Posted a 5-5 mark in Big Ten matches ... Started off the year with a 13-7 record in the fall, including a quarterfinal appearance at the 2008 Wilson/ITA Midwest Regional Championship ... Opened the season ranked No. 12 in the Midwest Region ... In doubles, went 20-18 with three different partners ... Teamed with Leigh Finnegan to go 10-10 in dual play, at the Nos. 1 and 2 doubles spots, primarily at No. 1 (7-10) ... Voted by her teammates as Player to Watch.
Juniors/High School
Played her freshman year at Horace Greeley High School in Chappaqua, New York ... Helped lead her team to a conference title during that year ... During her freshman year she played No.1 singles and was named all-state, all-section, and all-Conference ... Plays the majority of her tennis at Sportime Syosset and Sportime Bethpage for over two years ... In 2006, she became the G16 Supernational Clay Court Doubles Champion and earned a No. 1 G16s National Doubles Ranking ... Placed third in singles during the G16s National Open.
Personal
Born Chelcie Joy Abajian on July 20, 1990 ... Daughter of Lorraine Abajian ... Has an older sister, Melanie, and an older brother, Glenn ... Majoring in recreation, sport and tourism ... Her biggest thrill in sports came when she won the 2006 G16 Clay Court Doubles Championship ... Favorite athlete is Ana Ivanovic because she has no fear when she steps onto the tennis court ... Says all of her coaches have influenced her athletic career the most because of their constant support and giving her the confidence to excel ... Names her mother as the most influential person in her life because she is a strong and very supportive woman ... Plans to stay in the tennis world after she graduates whether it is coaching or representing a major tennis company.
The Abajian File
Favorite movie: The Blind Side
Favorite quote: "It's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog."
Favorite TV shows: Friday Night Lights and Modern Family
Favorite sports team: New York Yankees
Favorite food: Dark chocolate
Pre-match ritual: Warming up with Big Al
Favorite place on campus: Irwin Academic Center
Favorite sport: Volleyball
Favorite musical artists: Five for Fighting, Rascal Flatts and Keith Urban
Best memory as an Illini: Winning our NCAA first-round match over Vanderbilt her freshman year
Favorite Disney movie: The Lion King
Favorite superhero: Batman
Career Statistics
Singles Doubles Season Overall Big Ten Overall Big Ten 2008-09 26-19 5-5 20-18 5-5 2009-10 21-11 7-2 21-13 7-3 2010-11 11-13 3-1 14-8 2-1 2011-12 7-8 2-2 16-9 6-3 Total 65-51 17-10 71-48 20-12
