Hampton freshman Juan Araoz was named Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Men’s Tennis Player of the Week, the conference office announced today, while Morgan State’s Ondrej Labik earned Rookie of the Week honors. On the women’s side, Bethune-Cookman junior Matea Roki was named Player of the Week and Norfolk State’s Paula Fortuno was named Rookie of the Week.
Araoz (Fr., Pilar Buenos Aires, Argentina) went 4-0 in singles play and 3-1 in doubles play this past week. In singles play, he picked up straight-set victories against James Madison, Coppin State and Morgan State – and his three-set win over Richmond’s John Karlawish in the No. 1 position helped the Pirates pick up their lone point of that match. Along with Matthew Foster-Estwick, Araoz picked up doubles wins over James Madison, Coppin State and Richmond.
Labik (Fr., Czech Republic) was a perfect 4-0 last week, picking up two wins each in singles and doubles competition. He defeated Delaware’s Dominick Perez 6-2, 6-2 in the No. 4 spot after handing Hampton’s Fedor Shirin a 6-2, 6-2 defeat in the No. 3 position. Labik was also 2-0 in doubles action for the week, teaming with Nihit Rawal to pick up a 6-4 win over Hampton and a 6-2 win over Delaware.
Roki (Jr., Toronto, Canada) defeated Savannah State’s Lili-Morgan Pastore 6-0, 6-1 in the No. 3 singles position this past Sunday, helping the Lady Wildcats pick up an important conference victory. She also teamed up with Alejandra Vidal to defeat Jennyfer Vivas and Bria Burrows 6-0 in the No. 2 doubles spot. She also picked up singles and doubles wins against South Carolina State on March 27.
Fortuno (Fr., Vila-real, Spain) was a combined 5-0 last week, picking up three singles victories and a pair of doubles wins. Fortuno picked up a 6-0, 6-0 win over Maryland Eastern Shore’s Tearrnaey Peak – before defeating MDES’ Alese Brown 6-0, 6-0 – and then she picked up a 7-5, 7-5 win over Howard’s Sajela Harlow. Fortuno also won doubles matches against Howard (6-4) and Maryland Eastern Shore (6-0).
Other Top Performers
Brittanie Cahua (CSU) picked up a 6-3, 6-3 win over Rider’s Amanda Binder.
Christian Duchnak (CSU) picked up a pair of singles wins against Bucknell and Rider in the No. 2 position.
Andre Sturniolo (CSU) played in the No. 6 position, picking up a straight-set win over Hampton and a three-set victory against Rider.
Mariam Mitaishvili (HAM) picked up a pair of conference wins, earning a pair of straight-set singles victories against Coppin State (6-1, 6-3) and Morgan State (6-3, 6-4).
Arjun Ramakrishnan (MSU) defeated Hampton’s Matthew Foster-Estwick 6-1, 6-1 and Delaware’s Tyler Flematti 7-6 (7), 6-2.
Gabriel Cucalon (NCCU) defeated UC Riverside’s Cooper Bridge in the No. 1 slot 6-3, 6-4 – before picking up a 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 victory over Davidson’s Shamael Chaunhry.
Andres Alcaraz (NSU) defeated Howard’s Ismael Kaouache 5-7, 6-3, 7-5.
Vini da Silva (NSU) defeated UC Riverside’s Kyle McCann 6-1, 6-2 and Howard’s William Jones 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.
Liza Gordeeva (NSU) picked up singles wins against Howard and Maryland Eastern Shore, while also picking up a doubles win over MDES.
Sandy Lochu (SSU) defeated Bethune-Cookman’s Mina Matsuba 6-4, 6-1 in the No. 1 singles position.