Valparaiso University's Rachel Janssen (Fort Wayne, Ind./Dwenger H.S.) has been named the Mid-Continent Conference Athlete of the Week following the opening weekend of competition for the Crusaders.

Janssen finished runner-up for the Brown and Gold at the DePauw Invitational last weekend in the top singles flight. She won her first match easily 6-0, 6-1 against Jenni Townsend of Indiana-Southeast before dispatching of Sallie Crawford of DePauw 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 in the semifinals. She eventually fell to Liz Bondi of DePauw 7-5, 6-3 in the championship.

In doubles play, Janssen teamed with Kim Sajevic (Woodbury, Minn./Woodbury H.S.) to split a pair of matches in the top doubles flight.

Janssen, a senior, has now earned Athlete of the Week honors eight times during her career wearing the Brown and Gold.