Cristina Alvarez is the lone senior on the 2016 women’s tennis squad, remaining as one of the Huskies’ most productive players in her fourth year.

Alvarez is approaching 100 combined wins for her career at NIU. She had 57 singles wins and 36 doubles wins coming into the season. She’s raised her singles wins to 60 and her doubles wins to 38, placing her career total at 98.

Alvarez is one of four players on the Huskies’ roster who hails from a different country. She went 10-15 in the fall season, picking up five singles wins and winning NIU Female Scholar Athlete of the Week on Oct. 5.

Q: How long have you been playing tennis?

A: I started when I was 6, so 14 years.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about the sport of tennis?

A: Probably that you can have fun at every level. The better I get, the more things I can do. You can play for a long time, almost all your life.

Q: Do you have any role models that inspire you to play?

A: Yes, Roger Federer is my favorite player. And then women’s player, Justine Henin. I like their style and they play a more aggressive game. I like their backhand. One hand backhand, that’s how I play.

Q: Do you have any pregame rituals?

A: I see myself reviewing points, being focused, playing well, staying relaxed, warming up and focusing on the opponent.

Q: Do you tend to use the same strategy [every game] or do you ever switch it up based on the opponent?

A: It depends on [the] opponent. I usually like to play my own game. If the opponent is good at passing, I tend to stay in the back and play my own game.

Q: How do you like attending school in America?

A: [It’s a] very good experience and I get to play tennis at the same time. In Spain, there are no sports in universities so I wouldn’t be able to play there.

Q: Do you ever miss home?

A: Yeah. I visit over summer and winter breaks most of the time. But yeah I do miss home, the food and weather.

Q: Do you have plans for tennis in the future?

A: I want to keep playing some tournaments. I’d like to keep playing, join a team or league.

Alvarez will remain on the hunt for 100 wins as the Huskies face off against Cleveland State 11 a.m. Saturday in Rockford.