DeKALB, Ill. – Northern Illinois University women’s tennis head coach Eric Burns on Wednesday announced the signing of Theodora Kousiou, one of the top-ranked junior tennis players in Greece, for the 2024-25 season.
 
Kousiou, a native of Thessaloniki, Greece, has been ranked as high as 878 in the ITF (International Tennis Federation) world junior rankings and as the number three junior girls player in Greece. She has also earned a UTR (Universal Tennis Rating) of 8.38.  
 
“We are very excited to add a quality student-athlete like Theodora,” said NIU head coach Eric Burns. “She has a lot of ITF tournament experience and is someone I believe can come in and strengthen our team. Her game is on the rise. Theodora came highly recommended by her coach in Greece and not only does she have a strong work ethic on the tennis court, she is also a strong student. Theodora is playing her best tennis at the moment, and I believe she has the ability to find an even higher level in our program. We are really excited to have her and see where her game can go in the next four years.”
 
Kousiou’s junior singles highlights include third-place finishes in the ITF J30 events in Mytilene (Greece) and Larnaca (Cyprus) and reaching the quarterfinals at the J100 tournament in Accra (Ghana). In doubles, she was half of the championship pair at the ITF J60 Preveza Tournament and reached the finals in Accra, Mytilene and at the J60 Corfu Tournament.
 
The NIU women’s tennis team opens its 2024 dual match schedule on Saturday, January 20 when the Huskies play host to Wisconsin at the Nelson Tennis Center at Chick Evans Field House.
 
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