NEW YORK – Seniors Alan Nunez Aguilera of St. John’s and Xavier’s Sophia Abelson have secured this week’s BIG EAST Tennis Athlete of the Week honors. Nunez Aguilera helped the Red Storm capture a win over Quinnipiac, while falling to Columbia, which is ranked No. 12 in the country. Abelson led the Musketeers to wins over BIG EAST opponents Villanova and Georgetown.
BIG EAST Male Athlete of the Week
Alan Nunez Aguilera, St. John’s, Sr. (Puebla, Mexico)
Nunez Aguilera teamed with Charlie James to defeat Quinnipiac’s Aleska Martinovic and Axel Stern, 6-0. He then took down Martinovic, 6-4, 6-3, in No. 2 singles action. St. John’s won the match 5-0. Nunez Aguilera and James fell on the No. 1 doubles court to the tandem of Jack Lin and Jackie Tang of Columbia, who are ranked No. 11 and No. 44 in the nation, respectively. Nunez Aguilera scored the lone point of the day for the Red Storm at the No. 3 singles spot when he overcame the No. 32 nationally-ranked player, Adam Ambrozy, in three sets, 7-5, 6-7, 6-2.
BIG EAST Female Athlete of the Week
Sophia Abelson, Xavier, Sr. (West Bloomfield, Mich.)
Abelson was victorious in all four of her matches over the weekend en route to Xavier’s wins against BIG EAST foes Villanova and Georgetown. At the No. 2 doubles position, she and Kaitlin Ruether outdid Villanova’s Lexi DeNucci and Kaylan Rotman, 6-3. Abelson also grabbed the win over Claudia Althans 6-2, 6-4 at the No. 2 singles spot as the Musketeers swept the Wildcats. Against Georgetown, Ableson kept her winning streak going with a doubles triumph, 6-3, alongside Ruether again at No. 2. Abelson moved to the top spot in singles, and picked up the win versus Hoya Sofie Moenster, 6-2, 6-1. Xavier defeated Georgetown 4-0.