ST. PETER, Minn. – Sophomore tennis player Mohanad Alhouni (Tripoli, Libya) and senior middle hitter Alyssa Taylor (Trimont, Minn.) have been selected as the Gustavus Adolphus College October Male and Female Student-Athletes-of-the-Month presented by Thrivent Financial and voted on by the Gustavus Sports Information Department.
Mohanad Alhouni
Men’s Tennis
Hometown: Tripoli, Libya
High School: West Lutheran
Major: Management
Parents: Eenam and Khaled Al-Houni
Alhouni made his way to the championship match of the USTA/ITA Midwest Region Championships – hosted by Gustavus – in convincing fashion. He won the first match 6-0, 6-0, the second 6-2, 6-1, the third 6-1, 6-0, the fourth 6-1, 6-3, the fifth 6-3, 6-3 and the semifinal against teammate Zach Ekstein 6-2, 6-4. In the championship match, Alhouni beat Brady Anderson of Coe College 6-2, 6-2 to claim the 2015 USTA/ITA Midwest Region Singles Championship. With the regional title, Alhouni advanced to the USTA/ITA National Small College Championship held in Sumter, S.C. In the opening round, Alhouni defeated Carnegie Mellon’s Abhishek Alla – the tournament’s No. 3 seed – 6-1, 7-5. Alhouni’s string of eight consecutive wins at the USTA/ITA tournament came to an end in the national semifinals as he suffered a 6-4, 7-5 (5) loss to Noah Farrell of Middlebury College. Alhouni then lost in the third place match to No. 1 seed Skyler Butts of Claremont Mudd Scripps 6-1, 6-3 to finish fourth in the nation.
Alyssa Taylor
Position: Middle Hitter
Hometown: Trimont, Minn.
High School: Martin County West
Major: Health Fitness
Parents: Rodger and Jill Taylor
Taylor has been a key factor in the impressive season the volleyball team has put together so far. The senior middle hitter finished the month with 118 kills in 37 sets (3.19 per set) and a .320 attack percentage (32 errors, 169 attempts). In the month of October, Taylor also posted 42 total blocks (1.13 per set). Her impressive month was highlighted by a season-best 22-kill outburst against Martin Luther, which included a .541 attack percentage. On Oct. 26, Taylor was named MIAC Hitter-of-the-Week for her performances against Concordia and Saint Benedict where she accumulated 27 kills, a .230 hitting percentage, nine digs, eight blocks and two aces in the pair of five-set victories. After 25 matches played this season, Taylor ranks second in the MIAC in both blocks per set (1.14) and hitting percentage (.346). The Martin County West product has helped guide the Gusties to a 25-2 overall record, 25-straight wins (program record), and its first MIAC regular season championship since 1986.