Eastern Illinois University

EIU (2007-08): Finished with a 7-12 record while playing at No. 3, 4, and 5 singles... had an OVC record of 2-7, winning at the No. 5 spot... teamed with Sandra Sasidharan in doubles play, notching a 10-5 overall and 6-1 OVC mark at the top of the duo lineup... at one point in the season enjoyed a seven-match winning streak in duo play with Sasidharan.... 

HIGH SCHOOL: Was home-schooled while playing tennis at the Excel Tennis Academy... was coached by her father Shawn Huck... played in several USTA sanctioned tournaments and was ranked as high as third in Central Indiana girls U-18 and fifth in the U-16 rankings... ranked 68th in five-state USTA Midwest... in 2005 won Indiana Central girls U-16 doubles championship.... 

PERSONAL: Majoring in exercise science... daughter of Shawn & Kristy Huck... No. 1 sports highlight was “beating the Indiana state doubles champion in singles the same day they won the State Championship”... her father, Shawn, played collegiate tennis at Cederville University, making it to the NAIA nationals four years straight... her mother, Kristy, also played tennis at Central Washington University... one of her grandfathers was a four-sport athlete at Ball State University.... 

FUN STUFF: ‘Chuck’ or ‘Chuckles’ chose to attend Eastern “because I really liked the girls on the team and the size of the campus”... enjoys playing the piano and also plays volleyball and soccer... her chocolate lab is named ‘Stonewall Jackson’... loves Italian food, but dislikes lima beans, peas and hot dogs... her favorite buildings on campus are LSD (Lincoln, Stevenson, & Douglas Halls)... her advice to a younger athlete is “aim your goals high”... since attending EIU she has learned “how to be a team player”... if she could, she’d like to bring some of her friends from her hometown to Charleston... one of her hidden talents is that she can speak Italian... her own favorite personal quote is “dream... believe... inspire”... she also likes a quote from Nelly -- “I don’t care what nobody say, I’m gonna be me”... some of her personal goals she hopes to aspire to while at EIU and beyond include “maintaining a good GPA, winning the OVC at least one, and to go to graduate school to become an occupational therapist”.... 

BLACKBURN SAYS: “I’m really excited about seeing where Cara’s game goes this spring... she had an outstanding year in doubles in her freshman season and I think she will only continue to improve as the year goes on.”