MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE ANNOUNCES WOMEN’S TENNIS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
MAC Women’s Tennis Player of the Week
Tanvi Shah, Buffalo – Junior, Mumbai, India
Buffalo junior Tanvi Shah continues to lead Buffalo to its undefeated start to the season as she went a perfect 4-0 this past weekend, picking up wins at first doubles and first singles. Pairing up with partner Miranda Podlas, the Bulls claimed their doubles match against Temple, 8-2, while defeating their opponent from Binghamton, 8-6. Shah and Podlas remain undefeated in dual matches this season. In singles action, Shah won both contests at first singles, beginning with a 6-1, 5-7, 6-0 win against Temple. She had little trouble with her opponent from Binghamton on Sunday, winning 6-1, 6-2. Shah is 10-1 in doubles action this year and 6-4 in singles.
Additional Nominees:
Nikki Chiricosta, Bowling Green – Junior, Avon Lake, Ohio (Avon Lake High School)
Bowling Green junior Nikki Chiricosta had a 3-1 record last week, as the Falcons won a pair of matches to run their winning streak to nine. In Friday’s match vs. IPFW, she won at both singles and doubles in a 4-3 Bowling Green victory. Chiricosta teamed with fellow junior Emily Reuland for an 8-3 win at the number-two doubles flight. Then, she picked up a win in straight sets vs. Kristine Lindal at the second singles flight, picking up the fourth team point and clinching the match in the process. On Sunday vs. California (Pa.), Chiricosta won in straight sets at the top singles flight, defeating Lucie Sipkova by identical 6-2 scores. Chiricosta teamed with Jade Johnson in doubles, and that duo lost a narrow 8-6 score at the second flight. Bowling Green defeated California (Pa.), ranked 8th in the nation in NCAA Division II, by a 6-1 final. The doubles loss snapped Chiricosta’s personal winning streak at 15 matches. With her win at singles, however, Chiricosta has won nine consecutive singles matches.
On the season, Chiricosta has an overall record of 40-12, leading the team in wins. Her 19-5 singles record is the best on the Falcons, and her 21-7 doubles mark is tied for the team lead. Chiricosta already ranks 13th in school history in career singles wins (70). She is tied for 12th all-time at the school with 68 doubles victories, and her career total of 138 combined wins ranks her 12th. The Falcons are 9-1 this year and have won nine consecutive matches after a season-opening loss on the road against No. 19 Notre Dame.
Nimisha Mohan, Miami – Junior, Bangalore, India
Miami junior Nimisha Mohan won all three of her singles matches during the week, playing in the No. 3 position. Mohan started out on Tuesday with a 6-2, 2-1 (ret.) win at Kentucky, who entered the match ranked 63rd in the last ITA rankings. Mohan posted a 6-2, 6-1 victory against Boston University on Saturday before capping the week Sunday with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Yale's Blair Seideman, who is ranked 70th nationally in singles, and it was the only win secured by the RedHawks against the 23rd-ranked Bulldogs. Mohan was 0-3 in No. 2 doubles play.
Mary Malkin, Northern Illinois – Sophomore, Tel Aviv, Israel
Northern Illinois sophomore Mary Malkin had a dominating singles performance in the Huskies lone match of the week, a 7-0 dusting of Chicago State. Malkin posted a "double bagel" (6-0, 6-0) victory over Chicago State's Viviene Noel at the No. 4 spot to improve her spring singles record to an impressive 9-1. Malkin also teamed with Cristina Alvarez to claim the win at No. 3 doubles by an 8-5 score. Malkin and Alvarez are no 4-2 on the year in doubles. Northern Illinois upped its record to 9-1 this spring with the win.
Kelsey King, Western Michigan – Freshman, West Vancouver, B.C.
Western Michigan freshman Kelsey King went 2-0 in singles play for the Broncos last week, earning a pair of hard-fought three-set victories over competitors from Michigan State and Illinois-Chicago. King started the weekend with a doubles win over the Spartans' Emily Meyers, surviving a three-set marathon to win 6-7 (3), 7-6 (4), 6-4 in the No. 5 singles match, keeping the Broncos' chances of victory alive in a 4-3 loss. King was equally impressive in the Broncos' match against the Flames on Saturday, coming back from a second set loss to defeat Jana Knoppe 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 in the No. 5 singles match. King is 8-2 in dual match singles for the Broncos this season, tied with Maggie Remynse for the best mark on the team.