Valparaiso's Gaspar, Milwaukee's Schoen Take Home Horizon League Tennis Athlete of the Week Honors

INDIANAPOLIS – Valparaiso senior Jose Gaspar (Sao Paulo, Brazil) has earned Horizon League Men’s Tennis Athlete of the Week honors, while Milwaukee senior Sammi Schoen (Brookfield, Wis.) has received Women’s Tennis Athlete of the Week accolades.

Each player went 2-0 in singles action on the week, with Gaspar leading Valparaiso to two victories over Presbyterian and Saint Cloud State on the team’s spring break trip.  Schoen took Milwaukee to a Horizon League win over Green Bay and then helped the squad get past Chicago State.

Playing at No. 1 singles, Gaspar rallied for a come-from-behind 2-6, 6-2, 6-1 win over his foe from Presbyterian in an eventual 5-2 Crusaders triumph.  The senior led the way in a 7-0 sweep of Saint Cloud State, rolling at No. 1, 6-1, 6-0.

In doubles action, Gaspar teamed with Chris Baum for an 8-4 win over SCSU at #1 doubles after falling 9-7 to Presbyterian the previous day.

Schoen padded her career wins total, adding two victories at No. 2 and 3 singles to increase her school-record career total to 53.

In Milwaukee’s 5-2 win over Green Bay to start League play, Schoen first helped the Panthers capture the doubles point, working with Beth Ganser to deliver an 8-2 win at No. 3.  The senior followed up with a straight set victory in singles, 6-2, 6-1.

48 hours later, Schoen helped Milwaukee collect its seventh victory of the season in a 4-3 decision over Chicago State.  Needing to win four of six singles matches, Schoen led the way, rolling to a 6-4, 6-2 win at No. 2, setting the stage for the clinching match.

Holding a 7-4 mark, Milwaukee has already bested its win total from a year ago, when the Panthers were 5-14.

Valparaiso will continue its spring break trip, meeting Robert Morris (Pa.) on Tues., March 8, before a March 9 contest with South Dakota State.  Milwaukee will be off until Friday, March 18, when the Panthers head to Griffith, Ind., for a League match with UIC.