SOMERSET, N.J. – Fairleigh Dickinson men's tennis sophomore
Andris Gudins and freshman
Mehdi Dhouib were each honored by the Northeast Conference on Tuesday, with Gudins earning NEC Player of the Week and Dhouib receiving NEC Rookie of the Week.
Gudins went 3-1 in singles and 2-2 in doubles in a 3-1 week for the Knights which included conference wins over Wagner and Mount St. Mary's. Gudins played a key role in the Wagner victory, teaming with Dhouib to win 7-5 at first doubles against the Seahawks and then later tied the match score at 3-3 with a three-set singles victory over Dylan Walters, coming from behind to win 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (3).
The Riga, Latvia, native also picked up singles and doubles wins at Bloomsburg, and also defeated Parth Sharma of Mount St. Mary's at no. 2 singles 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-3 to put the Knights ahead 3-2 in the match score. Gudins has won each of his three NEC singles matches this season and is now 7-9 this spring at the no. 2 singles spot. When paired with Dhouib at first doubles, the tandem is 8-5 this spring (2-0 NEC).
Dhouib finished 4-0 individually in doubles matches this week and also went 2-1 at no. 1 singles. The Larchmont, N.Y., native won at no. 2 doubles with sophomore
Moric Budinszky against Duquesne and Mount St. Mary's as well as capturing his doubles wins with Gudins. In singles, the freshman scored a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Wagner's Anatoliy Lashkul as well as defeating Duquesne's Chris Corrao 6-2, 6-4. His lone blemish of the week came against Mount St. Mary's, where he dropped a close match with each set decided by only two games.
Dhouib this season is 7-7 at the no. 1 singles spot for the Knights (2-1 in NEC matches), and he is also unbeaten so far in three NEC doubles matches.
The conference honor is the fourth this season for Dhouib, who also garnered NEC Rookie of the Month honors in
February and
October and was also the NEC Player of the Month in October. The honor for Gudins is his first NEC weekly award of the season.
The Knights (7-9, 3-0 NEC), who are tied with Bryant for first place in the NEC standings, next play Sacred Heart on Thursday at noon.
