Lucas Waked named MVC Athlete of the Week

Feb. 24, 2009

St. Louis-Last week, Missouri Valley Conference men's and women's tennis teams compiled a 15-11 record in various non-conference duals, including four matches against ranked opponents. The MVC women's teams were a combined 10-6 last week, while the men's squads totaled an even 5-5 record overall.

This week, Valley teams will take on three ranked opponents in No.58 Iowa (Drake men), No. 59 Indiana (Southern Illinois men) and No. 66 Oklahoma State (Wichita State women).

The first conference dual matches of the season will also take place this weekend, as the Creighton Bluejays will hit the road to take on Wichita State (men and women).

Bradley (W), Drake (M), Illinois State (W) and Wichita State will host dual matches, while Creighton, Illinois State (M) and Southern Illinois will challenge opponents on the road.

In the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) rankings (Feb. 24), the Valley owns two teams. The Drake men and the Wichita State women are both ranked No. 71.

This week's State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tennis Athletes of the Week are Lucas Waked of Southern Illinois and Wichita State's Anna Egorova.

State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week: Lucas Waked, Jr., Southern Illinois, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Colegio PH) Junior Lucas Waked captured victories in No. 1 singles and doubles, leading Southern Illinois to a 7-0 sweep over Murray State in the Salukis 2009 home opener at SportsBlast in Carbondale.

In singles action, Waked took down Ben Clos at the No. 1 position, 6-4, 7-6 (6). In doubles play, Waked paired with partner Anton Leonenko beat Clos and Jose Berardo (8-5), while defeating Clos again in No. 1 singles 6-4, 7-6(6).

This weekend, Waked and the Salukis will travel to Bloomington, Ind. to take on No. 59 Indiana (Mar. 1).

Others nominated include: Callen Fraychineaud of Bradley and Skip Span of Illinois State.

State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week: Anna Egorova, Sr., Wichita State, Voskresensk, Russia Senior Anna Egorova posted a combined 4-0 record in singles and doubles last weekend in No. 72 Wichita State's wins over UALR and Kansas State.

In No. 1 singles play, she defeated UALR's Anne Weijenborg in straight sets, (6-3, 6-0), before downing Kansas State's Antea Huljev that same evening, (6-3, 6-2).

In doubles action, she teamed up with Stephanie Dalmacio at the No. 1 position for two more wins. The Shocker duo made quick work of UALR's Chantal Coolen and Marta Gomez-Jordana, (8-1), and held off Kansas State's Katerina Kudlackova and Antea Huljev, 8-7 (1).

The Shockers won both of their matches on Saturday, sweeping UALR (7-0), before picking up a 6-1 win over Kansas State in front of nearly 150 fans in the team's nightcap.

Others nominated include: Nicole Miller of Bradley, Kate Chybowski of Evansville, Tanja Hrovatic of Illinois State, Anna Morgina of Indiana State and Fadzai Mawisire of Southern Illinois.