Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Macon, Ga. -- Stetson's Hicham Laalej has become the first freshman of the season to be tabbed the Atlantic Sun Conference's Player of the Week, after posting a 4-0 record and dropping just one set all week, league officials announced today.

The Meknes, Morocco, native led the Hatters to a 4-0 mark during the week, including wins over Campbell and Mercer to climb the A-Sun standings. Laalej picked up his first victory against Duquesne's Paul Clough (6-1, 6-0) on March 5, before hosting Campbell's Gabriel Delarue (6-3, 6-2) on Wednesday.

The week ended with a Saturday match against Mercer, where Laalej defeated Patrick Russo, and a Sunday home bout against Georgia Southern. Laalej continued his winning ways, defeating Gregory Bekkers 6-0, 5-7, 10-6. The second-set loss was his one and only of the week.

The award is the first of its kind for the freshman. Laalej is the third different Stetson student-athlete to receive the honor this season, joining Filip Kricka and Serguei Boulanov.

The Atlantic Sun Player of the Week is announced every Tuesday during the 2007 tennis season.

The 12-member league headquartered in Macon, Ga., consists of Belmont, Campbell, ETSU, Gardner-Webb, Jacksonville, Kennesaw State, Lipscomb, Mercer, UNF and Stetson with Florida Gulf Coast and USC Upstate beginning competition in 2007-08.