Release courtesy of Matt Higgins, MIAC Assistant Executive Director
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – Gustavus tennis players Mohanad Alhouni (So., Tripoli, Libya) and Lizzy Stanczyk (Sr., Plymouth, Wis.) have swept the MIAC weekly awards as the Athletes-of-the-Week for their performances at the Stag-Hen Invite and Trinity University Invite, respectively.
Alhouni
The Gustavus men’s tennis team embarked on a trip to California for a trio of tough matches, and Mohanad Alhouni (Tripoli, Libya / West Lutheran) continued his remarkable sophomore season with three impressive singles wins. Alhouni went 3-0 at No. 1 singles against opponents that all ranked in the top 26 nationally. For his performance, the MIAC sports information directors honored Alhouni Tuesday with his second MIAC Men’s Tennis Athlete-of-the-Week award of the 2016 season. Alhouni certainly validated his No. 4 national singles ranking and top spot in the Central region rankings with his three impressive wins. He battled back for a 4-6, 6-4, 7-5, winner over No. 22-ranked Jake Yasgoor of Pomona. He scored a 6-4, 6-2, straight-sets win over No. 26-ranked CJ Krimbill of Case Western and closed the week with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-4, win over No. 21-ranked Daniel Budd of Texas-Tyler. Alhouni also went 1-2 at No. 1 doubles as No. 19-ranked Gustavus dropped a 7-2 match to No. 11 Pomona and a 6-3 decision to No. 6-ranked Case Western before defeating No. 26-ranked Texas-Tyler. Thanks to his three wins, Alhouni is now 16-1 in singles play in 2016, and he has a 12-4 doubles record as well. Gustavus is now 11-3 overall and remains undefeated in conference play atop the MIAC standings at 5-0. The Gusties hope to get back in the win column this weekend with a nonconference match against Division II in-state foe St. Cloud State on Saturday in St. Cloud, Minn.
Stanczyk
The Gustavus women’s tennis team had a successful road trip down to Texas, with a 3-1 record against good competition. Senior Lizzy Stanczyk (Plymouth, Wis.) led the way on the team’s sojourn to the south with a perfect 4-0 record at No. 1 doubles and a 2-1 mark at the No. 2 singles spot. For her performance, the MIAC sports information directors honored Stanczyk Tuesday with the MIAC Women’s Tennis Athlete-of-the-Week award. Stanczyk started her big weekend Friday with No. 1 doubles (8-2) and No. 2 singles (6-3, 6-2) wins to help the Gusties sweep Mary Hardin-Baylor 9-0. Saturday she was an 8-3 winner at No. 1 doubles in an 8-1 win over Texas Lutheran, and her No. 1 doubles (8-5) and No. 2 singles (6-4, 6-3) helped Gustavus upset No. 37-ranked East Texas Baptist 7-2. Sunday, her 8-5 No. 1 doubles win was the lone point in an 8-1 loss to 24th-ranked Trinity. The four doubles wins helped Stanczyk improve her 2016 record to 6-2, and she is now 4-3 in singles play this season. Thanks to the 3-1 trip to Texas, Gustavus improved to 9-4 overall and remains one of the MIAC’s four unbeaten teams in conference play with a 3-0 league record. The Gusties – ranked 10th in the Central Region – will step up a level Saturday to face NCAA Division II Minnesota State-Mankato in a home nonconference match in St. Peter, Minn.