UMass Sweeps Women’s Tennis Awards, SJU and GW Take Men’s Honors

UMass Sweeps Women’s Tennis Awards, SJU and GW Take Men’s Honors

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Saint Joseph’s Jose Sierra and Massachusetts’ Arielle Griffin have been named Atlantic 10 Conference Men’s and Women’s Tennis Performers of the Week, respectively, the league announced Tuesday. Also honored were GW’s Julius Tverijonas and UMass’ Aarzoo Malik, who were named Rookie Performers of the Week.

MEN’S PERFORMER OF THE WEEK

Jose Sierra, Saint Joseph’s

Senior | Guaynabo, Puerto Rico

Sierra picked up two wins last week in a 6-1 Hawks win against Quinnipiac. The Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, product paired with Dan Barrus for a 6-4 victory in No. 1 doubles before taking down Kei Ezada in straight sets (6-1, 6-2) in the top singles spot.

WOMEN’S PERFORMER OF THE WEEK

Arielle Griffin, Massachusetts

Sophomore | Jamaica, N.Y.

Griffin posted a flawless week to help lead the Minutewomen to a 2-0 week. Against Bryant, Griffin and partner Yuliana Motyl defeated Bryant’s Marion Bouillin and Ryan Brown, 6-2, before taking straight sets (6-3, 6-0) over Devlin-Ann Ammendola in No. 4 singles. The Jamaica, N.Y., native, again paired with Motyl then beat Long Island’s top doubles team, 6-2, and added 6-0, 6-1 victory over Katya Yegoreychenko.

MEN’S ROOKIE PERFORMER OF THE WEEK

Julius Tverijonas, George Washington

Freshman | Siauliai, Lithuania

Tverijonas went unbeaten in singles and doubles play last week, lifting the Colonials to a 4-3 decision over St. John’s. The rookie paired with Francisco Dias for a 6-1 doubles decision, before earning a 6-5, 6-1 singles victory against Robert Livi in the No. 3 spot for GW.

WOMEN’S ROOKIE PERFORMER OF THE WEEK

Aarzoo Malik, Massachusetts

Freshman | New Delhi, India

Freshman Malik stepped into the No. 2 position for UMass, posting a pair of singles victories and a win in doubles as the Mintuewomen went 2-0 last week. From New Delhi, India, Malik and partner Jessica Podlofsky picked up a 6-2 decision against Long Island’s Marine Dans and Brittany Thompson. Malik also added two straight set singles victories against Bryant’s Ryan Brown (6-0, 6-3) and Long Island’s Lisa Maas (6-1, 6-4).