Butler and DePaul Share Season’s Final Weekly Tennis Honors
BIG EAST Men’s Tennis Athlete of the Week
Aviv Ben Shabat, Butler, So.
The sophomore ended the regular season on a high note as he helped Butler harvest a 5-2 win over Xavier in the team’s final competition prior to this weekend’s BIG EAST Championships. Ben Shabat downed XU’s Matt Bishop, 6-3, 6-4, in No. 1 singles play after teaming with Mikheil Khmiadashvili for a 6-2 win at No. 2 doubles. He finishes the regular-spring season with a 10-5 mark for the Bulldogs on the No.1 court.
BIG EAST Women’s Tennis Athlete of the Week
Aspasia Avgeri, DePaul, Fr.
Avgeri attains the conference’s weekly honor for the third time this season after directing DePaul to a 4-3 win over Marquette and a 4-0 sweep over Seton Hall. Against Marquette, Avgeri clinched her singles and doubles matches, defeating Courtney Hebard at No. 4 in three-set fashion 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 while pairing with Yuliya Shupenia at the top spot in doubles action to defeat Silvia Ambrosio and Paula Tormos Sanchez 7-6. The freshman wrapped up the regular season with a 6-4 doubles No.1 win against the Pirates. Avgeri finishes her first regular season with a team-best 23 singles victories including a 6-0 mark in BIG EAST action.
Notable Performances
Jack Dykema, Xavier, So.
The sophomore delivered a 3-1 week for the Musketeers, including a 2-0 mark in doubles action to help Xavier versus Northern Kentucky and Butler. Against Northern Kentucky, Dykema won, 6-4, 6-4, in the No. 3 singles spot. He finished the week with a 6-1 victory over Butler’s Trent Smith also on the No. 3 court.
Lindsey Evans, Villanova, So.
Evans opened the weekend with a perfect mark against Saint Joseph’s at the No. 1 spot, first combining with Victoria Martinez at the No. 1 doubles to win 6-4 and then continued with a 6-4, 7-5 at the No. 1 singles spot. Evans concluded the weekend with a three-set victory against Georgetown.
Alastair Hurry, Villanova, Jr.
Hurry helped the Wildcats extend to a four-match winning streak with wins against Georgetown and St. Joseph’s. The junior claimed a three-set win at the No. 6 spot against the Hoyas while he claimed a 6-4, 6-1 against Hawks.
Nathan de Veer, DePaul, Sr.
The senior went 3-1 on the week, helping DePaul to wins over Marquette and Cleveland State. His week was highlighted by a 6-4, 6-7, 6-4 victory over Marquette’s Alvaro Verdue at the No. 1 spot, securing the 4-3 victory for the Blue Demons.
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, April 26); 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), Dylan Flanagan, Villanova (April 19)
Women’s Tennis: Risa Takenaka, Providence (Jan. 25); Aspasia Avgeri, DePaul (Feb.1, March. 1, April 26); 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); Ana Vladutu, DePaul (April 19)