NORTHEAST-10 RELEASE
MANSFIELD, Mass. – Graduate student Tiago Fernandes (Porto, Portugal) and freshman Emmanuel Vacalares (Cagayan de Oro, Philippines) of the Southern New Hampshire University men's tennis team were selected as the Northeast-10 Player of the Week and Rookie of the Week, respectively, for the period ending March 24, the conference office announced Tuesday.
It is the second time the pair has swept the weekly awards, as they also did so back on Oct. 23.
Fernandes went 4-0 during a 2-0 week for the Penmen, including 2-0 at No. 1 singles, as he clinched both wins, including a blanking of regionally-ranked New York Institute of Technology. Fernandes, who earns NE10 Player of the Week honors for the third time this season (Oct. 16, Oct. 23), defeated NYIT's Francisco Caldas, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, in a 7-0 win Friday, before turning around Saturday and helping SNHU to another 7-0 victory at Adelphi University with a 6-4, 6-2 triumph over Sabin Adrian Saveluc. Fernandes also teamed with Vacalares for a pair of wins at No. 3 doubles. They topped NYIT's Kevin Huynh and Maxton Cook, 6-2, and posted another 6-2 win over Finn Krause and Ilya Kalabukhau to clinch the doubles point against Adelphi.
Vacalares, who captures his second NE10 Rookie of the Week accolade, also went 4-0, including 2-0 at No. 3 singles. Vacalares made quick work of NYIT's Diego Espiniella, 6-0, 6-4, and then posted a 6-2, 6-0 win against Adelphi's David Robres de Veciana.
Fernandes is 10-3 in singles play this season, including 2-0 in the league. Vacalares is 7-3 thus far, including 2-0 in the NE10. As a doubles tandem, the two are 5-4, overall, and 1-0 in the conference.
Fernandes, Vacalares and the Penmen are back in action Friday, March 29 (3 p.m.) when they play host to Queens (N.Y.) College.
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