INDIANAPOLIS -- Cleveland State sophomore Ali Shabib (Copenhagen, Denmark) has been named the Horizon League Men’s Tennis Athlete of the Week, while Milwaukee sophomore Christina Colarossi (Dearborn Heights, Mich./Divine Child) has earned Women’s Tennis honors, for the week of Feb. 4-10. The accolade is the first of Shabib's career, while Colarossi earns the honor for the second time in as many seasons.
Cleveland State (2-5) dropped both of its matches in Kalamazoo, Mich., last week, falling to the Broncos, 5-2, ahead of a 5-2 defeat against Illinois State. Shabib went 1-1 in singles play and posted an unbeaten doubles mark.
Colarossi went 2-1 in both singles and doubles as Milwaukee (3-4) posted victories against North Dakota, 5-2, and UTEP, 4-3, while playing three matches in Des Moines, Iowa.
Teaming with Nicklas Jonsson at No. 1 doubles, Shabib opened the weekend with an 8-5 win as Cleveland State collected the early doubles point against Western Michigan. Playing at No. 3 singles, Shabib collected the Vikings’ lone singles victory with a 6-4, 6-3 triumph.
On Saturday, Shabib and Jonsson knocked off the No. 58-ranked team in the country, Alexander Pelaez and Erik Brunskog, 8-6, helping the Vikings snare the doubles point. Shabib dropped a tough three-set match at to Brunskog No. 3, 6-2, 3-6, 5-7.
Colarossi improved to 17-3 in doubles play in the fall and spring, continuing to partner with Maddy Soule at No. 1. Against North Dakota, the pair dropped just its third match of the year, before rebounding with an 8-4 win at No. 1 versus Drake. In the Panthers’ win over UTEP, Colarossi and Soule teamed for an 8-3 victory.
In singles play, Colarossi went 2-1 at No. 5 singles, collecting straight set wins over North Dakota, 6-0, 7-5, and UTEP, 6-2, 6-3. In the spring, Colarossi holds a 3-4 record at No. 5.
Cleveland State will meet Buffalo on Saturday, Feb. 16, at 4 p.m. EST, while Milwaukee will take on Toledo on Friday, Feb. 15, at 2 p.m. EST.
Men’s Tennis Athletes of the Week:
January 15: Michal Lyzwa, Wright State
January 22: Maurizio Feoli, UIC
January 29: Michael Tenzer, Green Bay
February 5: Alex Latosinsky, Detroit
February 12: Ali Shabib, Cleveland State
Women’s Tennis Athletes of the Week:
January 29: Maddy Soule, Milwaukee
February 5: Valeryia Kulikouskaya, Detroit
February 12: Christina Colarossi, Milwaukee
