MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE ANNOUNCES WOMEN'S TENNIS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
For Immediate Release-Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011
MAC Women's Tennis Player of the Week
Christine Chiricosta, Bowling Green - Senior, Avon Lake, Ohio (Avon Lake High School)
Bowling Green senior Christine Chiricosta became the winningest player in Bowling Green school history as the Falcons went a perfect 3-0 in last weekend's dual matches. Chiricosta helped Bowling Green to a trio of 7-0 wins, over Cleveland State, IUPUI and Butler, with the latter two wins coming on the road. She had an overall record of 5-1 on the weekend, going 3-0 at the top singles flight, and 2-1 at the number-one doubles flight. Chiricosta posted lopsided singles wins vs. both Cleveland State and IUPUI, and teamed with Maddy Eccleston for doubles victories on both nights. Her lone loss was a narrow 9-8 decision in doubles at Butler. Later that day, however, she downed Butler's Natali Jaimes in singles play to break the school record for combined career wins. Chiricosta now has a total of 154 victories at Bowling Green, surpassing the old record of 153 set by Deidee Bissinger (1997-2000). Chiricosta currently ranks second in school history in doubles wins and fourth in singles victories at Bowling Green.
Additional Nominees:
Diana Popescu, Buffalo - Senior, Alexandria, Romania
Buffalo senior Diana Popescu went 3-1 this past week winning both of her matches at second singles and splitting at second doubles. Popescu defeated Joanna Zwirbulis of St. John's in straight sets at second singles, 6-2, 6-3. In the win over Pittsburgh she teamed up with Marta Stoyanova for an 8-4 win at second doubles and then in singles she picked up another straight sets victory, this time over Gabi Catanzariti, 6-4, 6-2.
Megan Martzolf, Miami - Senior, Indianapolis, Ind.
Miami senior Megan Martzolf helped Miami to its best start in the 37-year history of the tennis program by posting a 4-0 record and she ran her dual-match winning streak to 27 straight (two abandoned) with No. 3 wins over opponents from Cincinnati and Butler. Martzolf won on Friday night by a 6-3, 6-2 count, then swept to a 6-2, 7-5 win in her hometown on Saturday. Martzolf teamed with Stephanie Danesis for 8-2 wins in each of their No. 1 matches.
Amanda Border, Toledo - Freshman, Novi, Mich. (Novi High School)
Toledo freshman Amanda Border picked up one of the two Rocket points in Saturday's 5-2 loss to the 2010 Horizon League Champion, Illinois-Chicago. Border overcame UIC's Cristescu 7-6(5), 6-5(default) at the No. 3 slot to remain unbeaten to start her freshman campaign. Border also teamed with sophomore Silvia Carvajal at No. 3 doubles, and pushed the match to the tiebreak before dropping a close 8-7(4) decision.
Previous Honorees:
Jan. 26: Anastasia Dracheva, Miami