DePaul and Georgetown Share Tennis Weekly Awards
BIG EAST Men’s Tennis Athlete of the Week
Boris Spanjaard, DePaul, Fr.
Spanjaard was effective for DePaul this weekend as the Blue Demons earned victories over Butler and Xavier last week. Against the Bulldogs, the rookie clinched the match point after he defeated Ari Gerstein 7-5, 5-7, 6-3 in a hard fought battle at No. 5 singles. In doubles, he paired with Tim Corwin to defeat Mikhail Khmiadashvili and Aviv Ben Shabat at No. 2. Against Xavier, Spanjaard took on Gabriel Araujo at No. 5 to claim a 6-4, 6-1 victory. He paired with Corwin again at No. 2 doubles to best Connor LaFavre and Jeremy Schneider 6-1.
BIG EAST Women’s Tennis Athlete of the Week
Victoire Saperstein, Georgetown, Sr.
Going 2-0 in singles action and 1-1 in doubles with Casey Marx, Saperstein guided the Hoyas to their first program win over DePaul and a 4-3 victory over Towson. Against the Blue Demons, the senior clinched the doubles point at No.2 with a 6-0 mark before sweeping No. 125 Yuliya Shupenia 6-3, 6-1 at No.1
Notable Performances
Sophia Abelson, Xavier, So.
Abelson went 2-2 last week with victories over Cincinnati and Memphis. He triumph against the Bearcats came on the No.5 court at 6-2,6-3 while her win over the Tigers was at No.4 with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 finish.
Silvia Ambrosio, Marquette, So.
Guiding the Golden Eagles to 6-1 wins at Creighton and Omaha, Ambrosio rallied for both of her wins at No. 1 singles after dropping the first set and also teamed up with Paula Tormos Sanchez for two victories at No. 1 doubles.
Aspasia Avgeri, DePaul, Fr.
Avgeri went undefeated at Villanova and Georgetown this past weekend playing the No. 4 singles in both matches. Against the Wildcats, Avgeri bested Carina Burdick 6-4, 7-5 while she outplayed Cecilia Lynham 7-5, 6-2.
Matt Bishop, Xavier, Sr.
Leading the Musketeers, Bishop won the decisive match in Xavier’s 4-3 over Marquette. The senior claimed the final point with a 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (4) victory at the No.1 spot.
Michael Chen, Georgetown, So.
Playing at the No.4 spot in singles action and No.3 doubles play, Chen helped Georgetown to a 4-3 victory over Temple last week.
Mason Dragos, Butler, So.
The sophomore posted singles wins at No. 2 singles in Butler’s 6-1 win over Marquette and a win at No. 3 in a 4-3 team loss to DePaul. Dragos defeated Marquette’s Luke Smrek, 4-6, 7-6, 6-1 and beat DePaul’s No. 3 player, 6-4, 6-1.
Alastair Hurry, Villanova, Jr.
Hurry collected straight set wins at the No.6 spot against UConn and Hofstra helping the Wildcats to consecutive wins last weekend.
Thandy Kangwa, Seton Hall, So.
The sophomore led a 6-2 win at No. 2 doubles and earned a 6-4, 7-6 (10) No. 6 singles victory in The Hall’s Sunday matchup against St. John’s.
Kaylan Rotman, Villanova, Fr.
Rotman secured a 6-4 Villanova BIG EAST win over Providence after picking up a three-set singles victory at the No.2 spot and a doubles win at the No. 2 spot with Linley Busby.
Risa Takenaka, Providence, So.
Takenaka went undefeated on the weekend in singles play, notching victories in the No. 2 spots against St. John’s and Villanova. Against the Red Storm, the sophomore won a three-set battle over Stephanie Elgegren, 6-3, 2-6, 10-4. Takenaka would take it to three sets again in her No. 2 singles win against Victoria Martinez of Villanova, 6-1, 6-7, 10-4.
2017 Tennis Weekly Honors
Men's Tennis: Nathan de Veer, DePaul (Jan. 25, Feb. 15); Alvaro Verdu, Marquette (Feb. 1, April 5); Mikheil Khmiadashvili, Butler (Feb.8, March 15); Aviv Ben Shabat, Butler (Feb.22); Thomas Dodson, Villanova (March 1); Tyler Roth, Villanova (March 8) Matt Bishop, Xavier (March 22); Stefan Suarez, Villanova (March 29); Boris Spanjaard, DePaul (April 12)
Women’s Tennis: Risa Takenaka, Providence (Jan. 25); Aspasia Avgeri, DePaul (Feb.1, March. 1); Luize Strike, Seton Hall (Feb.8); Yuliya Shupenia, DePaul (Feb. 15), Jessica Livianu, St. John’s (Feb.22), Keisha Clousing, DePaul (March 8); Michaela Henne, Creighton (March 15); Darby Rosette, Creighton (March 22); Sydney Liggins, Xavier (March 29); Paula Tormos, Marquette (April 5); Victoire Saperstein, Georgetown (April 12)