Tuesday, March 02, 2010 | Tennis
Valley Announces Tennis Athletes of the Week

The women's tennis teams of the Valley had a stellar weekend going a combined 10-3.  Illinois State earned the only victory on Friday and on Saturday and Sunday the teams went undefeated, winning nine of the ten total wins of the weekend.  For the men, Drake and Wichita State posted perfect records over the weekend.  Drake won all three of their scheduled matches while Wichita State dominated Bethany College and Washburn University.

This week's State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tennis Athletes of the Week are Wichita State's Sven Kasper and Phoebe Walker of Northern Iowa.

State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Men's Athlete of the Week
Sven Kasper, Redshirt Freshman, Wichita State, Tallinn, Estonia
Sven Kasper took advantage of Coach Brad Louderback's decision to play him at the No. 1 position this past weekend. Proving Louderback right, Kasper posted a 2-0 singles weekend against Bethany College and Washburn University on Friday and Saturday, respectively.

Kasper surrendered just two games against Bethany's Shane Haggins on Friday in the 6-2, 6-0 victory. He teamed up with partner Vlad Marinescu to jolt past Jack Schoeman and Will Wiseman in the No. 1 doubles match, 8-3.

On Saturday, Kasper faired just as well against the Ichabods' leadoff man. He took down Ryan Ward, 6-2, 6-2 en route to the Shockers' 6-1 victory. He and Marinescu also kept doubles opponent, Ward and Simon Blondin, off the board to win, 8-0.

Others nominated include: Falk De Beenhouwer, Southern Illinois; James McAvoy, Creighton

State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Women's Athlete of the Week
Phoebe Walker, So., Northern Iowa, Kensington, Australia
This past weekend, Phoebe Walker went 3-0 competing at the No. 1 spot against UMKC, South Dakota and Northern Illinois. On Friday, Walker defeated Eva Dalvai of UMKC 6-3,6-4. The next day she won by retirement over Marina Kiefer of South Dakota University and just a day later beat out Kathryn Friedlund of Northern Illinois 6-0,6-2. Walker is 7-1 in the Spring season competing at the No.1 spot for the UNI Panthers.

Others nominated include: Vishakha Sheoran, Southern Illinois; Anna Kirshenbaum, Creighton; Aniko Kiss, Illinois State; Lenore Lazaroiu, Wichita State; Emily Regenold, Bradley