Cary Franklin was named Freshman of the Year and joined teammates Gavin Sontag and Jerry Turek as All-Big Ten selections Thursday as the conference announced men's tennis honors.Franklin was 28-7 overall, 7-2 Big Ten in singles competition. He is the highest-rated Big Ten player (48th) in the latest Rolex Collegiate Tennis rankings.

UI women roll.

The UI women's tennis team advanced to the second round of the Big Ten championships with a 4-3 victory against Michigan State on Thursday in West Lafayette, Ind.

Susanne Land went three sets for a singles victory while Jessica Klapper and Lindsey Bruce each won in straight sets. The Illini, 11-12 overall, 6-5 Big Ten, won both doubles matches.

Illinois plays Wisconsin today.

Grant leads UI women's track.

Stacy Ann Grant was second in the high jump at the Penn Relays on Thursday with a leap of 5 feet, 11 inches.

Grant's leap is as an NCAA provisional qualifying mark.

The UI's Yvonne Harrison was third in the 400-meter hurdles in 58.75 seconds, also an NCAA provisional qualifying mark. Tisha Ponder was fourth in the long jump at 19-6, and the 4 X 400-meter relay team was fourth in its heat in 3:44.

Illinois' 4 x 400 relay qualified finished fourth in its heat (3:43.17), qualifying for Saturday's finals.

Recruits join UI soccer.

Rebecca Fox of Bloomington leads a class of recruits for the Illinois women's soccer program.

Fox, a 5-foot-8 midfielder, is 1 of 12 players for coach Jillian Ellis' squad next season.

The UI opens its season Aug. 8 with an exhibition match at home against Illinois State. The regular season kicks off Sept. 2 with a home game against St. Louis.

Small off pace.

Mike Small of Danville, a former Illini, had a first-round 72 at the Nike Alabama Classic on Thursday in Huntsville, Ala. Small trails leader Tim Loustalot by 10 strokes.

Banquet honors award winners

Fifteen University of Illinois student-athletes were honored at Thursday's 1996-97 All-Sports Award Banquet for Athletes with Disabilities, sponsored by the Champaign-Urbana Optimists Club and American Legion Post 24.

First Year Awards went to Teresa Brandenberg, Susan Katz, Sarah Kelly and Derrick Thayer. Second Year Awards went to Patricia Bowen, Miriam Nibley, Chad Hebel, Ian Rice, James Shawand William Waller. Third Year Awards went to Theresa Ferguson, Jeff Balok, Derek Brown and Keith Davis. The Fourth Year Award went to Jana Stump.