Sophomore Duo Claims #BEtennis Weekly Accolades
NEW YORK – Creighton’s Stratton Brown and Villanova’s Claudia Althans have been recognized as the latest BIG EAST Tennis Athletes of the Week. Brown helped the Bluejays secure two victories over North Dakota and Illinois State, while Althans guided the Wildcats to a 5-0 record during the past week with wins against Rider, Seton Hall, La Salle, Providence and Georgetown. Both Brown and Althans receive their first honors of the season.
BIG EAST Male Athlete of the Week
Stratton Brown, Creighton, So. (Salina, Kan.)
Brown went 4-0 in two matches over the past weekend at home. In a 4-3 team win over North Dakota, Brown and Armando Gandini partnered to defeat Chuck Tang and Jake Kuhlman, 6-3, on the No. 3 doubles court. At No. 2 singles, Brown was victorious versus Johnnie Carmichael, 6-4, 6-0. Against Illinois State, he and Joe Hoff combined to outplay Igor Kolaric and Zacharias Rasmusson, 6-1, to clinch the doubles point at the No. 2 spot. Brown finished the weekend undefeated with a comeback, three-set triumph over Pol Rius Botifoll at No. 2 singles, 5-7, 6-3, 10-5. The Bluejays won the match 5-2.
BIG EAST Female Athlete of the Week
Claudia Althans, Villanova, So. (Chagrin Falls, Ohio)
Althans won seven matches as the Wildcats secured five victories over the past week, improving their winning streak to six. In a 6-0 defeat of Rider, Althans recorded a 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 1 singles. At No. 2 singles versus BIG EAST foe Seton Hall, she beat Regina Pitts, 6-4, 6-4 and the team won 4-2. Althans was victorious again at the top spot in singles against La Salle, winning 6-4, 6-2. Villanova won 4-0. The Pirates defeated conference opponents Providence (4-0) and Georgetown (6-1), and Althans won both doubles matches with Lindsey Evans at No. 1. The duo defeated the Friars 6-0 and the Hoyas 6-3. At No. 2 singles, Althans remained unbeaten, winning 6-4, 6-2 against Providence’s Haley Gurski, and 6-3, 6-3 versus Georgetown’s Sydney Goodson.