IRVINE, Calif. -- This week’s PacWest Players of the Week are
Jan Simon from Concordia men’s tennis and
Sofia Ragona from Academy of Art women’s tennis.
WOMEN’S PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sofia Ragona, Academy of Art
So. – Torino, Italy
Ragona won the rubber match against Dominican’s
Audrey Rafols on Saturday, 7-6(7), 6-3 for her fifth win in a row this season. Ragona won the first meeting between each team’s respective No. 1 singles player with a three-set victory in the fall. Then Rafols topped Ragona during the season opener of the 2022 season, setting up Saturday’s rubber match. The first set was a battle as expected with both players having opportunities to win the set before Ragona won it 9-7 in a tiebreaker. Ragona then finished the match in the second set, winning 6-3. Ragona’s performance helped Academy of Art win the match 7-0 to complete the season sweep of Dominican and improve to 5-2 on the season.
MEN’S PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jan Simon, Concordia
Sr. – Koblenz, Germany
Simon went undefeated in both singles and doubles this week in matches against Point Loma and Colorado Mesa prior to today’s match against Michigan Tech. Simon helped the Eagles get their biggest win so far of the season, beating Point Loma, 4-3. After winning his doubles set alongside
Younes Kodiji 6-1, Simon won in straight sets in singles, beating
Nabeel Khan at No. 3 singles, 6-2, 6-4. The win could have big postseason implications for Concordia since both teams are in contention for the fourth playoff spot in the NCAA West Regional play-in matches. Simon moved up in the lineup to No. 2 singles and won against Colorado Mesa 6-2, 6-3. He kept his streak of sets won going this morning with a 6-0, 6-1 win over Michigan Tech. Concordia has won three matches in a row to now be 3-3 against NCAA Division II opponents.
| PREVIOUS PLAYERS OF THE WEEK |
|
Women |
Men |
| Feb. 8 |
Angelique Friedrich, PLNU |
Ryan Nuno, APU |
| Feb. 15 |
Thelma Sepulveda, PLNU |
Jordi Walder, HPU |
| Feb. 22 |
Alexandria Mann, BU |
Elias Emilio Walter, APU |
| March 1 |
Liga Nora, APU |
Alexei Prokopchuk, BU |