Morgan State junior Jeremy Field and Bethune-Cookman senior Alvaro Barrera were named Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Men’s Tennis Co-Players of the Week, the conference office announced. Morgan State’s Nihit Rawal was named Men’s Tennis Rookie of the Week. On the women’s side, Bethune-Cookman junior Matea Roki was named Player of the Week, while North Carolina A&T State’s Klara Smolikova earned Rookie of the Week honors.
Field (5-9, Jr., Seyssinet-Pariset, France) helped Morgan State remain undefeated in MEAC Northern Division play, defeating Howard’s William Jones III 6-1, 6-0 in the No. 2 singles position – and also teaming with Lucas Krusinski in the No. 2 doubles position for a 6-2 victory. Field’s performance helped the Bears defeat the Bison 4-0.
Barrera (5-7, Sr., Madrid, Spain) went 3-0 in singles play and 2-1 in doubles action this past week. All three singles victories came in the No. 5 position, where Barrera defeated North Carolina A&T State’s Niko Barr (6-2, 6-1), North Carolina Central’s Sebastian Bromley (6-2, 6-0) and Savannah College of Art and Design’s Josh Tewes-McCoy (6-0, 6-3). He also picked up doubles wins against conference foes North Carolina A&T State and North Carolina Central.
Rawal (5-10, Fr., Chandigarh, India) defeated Howard’s Cole Gittens 6-1, 6-2 in the No. 5 singles position, while also picking up a doubles win alongside Ondrej Labik, 6-2 in the No. 1 doubles spot against the Bison’s William Jones III and Ismael Kaouache.
Roki (5-9, Jr., Toronto, Canada) won all three of her singles matches this past week, including conference victories over North Carolina A&T State and North Carolina Central. Her 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7-2) win over the Lady Aggies’ Khalia Powell in the No. 2 slot was the deciding point of the match, and Roki also defeated North Carolina Central’s Lynsey Cover 6-2, 6-1. Roki won both of her doubles matches in conference play, before falling in a non-conference doubles match against Savannah College of Art and Design.
Smolikova (5-6, Fr., Jihlava, Czech Republic) defeated Bethune-Cookman’s Phatismo Ruele 6-3, 6-3 in the No. 5 singles position, while also picking up a doubles win against the Lady Wildcats. She also narrowly lost her singles match against Florida A&M, falling 6-7 (7-9), 5-7 to Sophia Osabouhlen.
Other Top Performers
Phatismo Ruele (B-CU) picked up a singles win against North Carolina Central’s Lauren Mullis, 6-0, 6-0.
Jessica Josiah (HOW) won both her singles and doubles matches against Coppin State.
Chloe Kabamba (MSU) defeated Howard’s Nicole Hutchinson in the No. 2 singles position, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4).
Nadia Hilton-Adams (NCAT) racked up straight-set wins over both Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M, while also winning her doubles match against FAMU.
Adair Bartra (NCAT) won his singles match over Bethune-Cookman’s Greg Almeida, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 in the No. 3 position.
Agustin Carrizo (NSU) defeated Longwood’s Jorge Gomis 7-6, 6-1 for his first collegiate victory.