Wednesday, February 25, 2009

MACON, Ga. - The 65th-ranked Stetson Hatters extended their winning streak to four matches with three victories last week. Freshman Maksim Levanovich notched the clinching point in the Hatters 4-3 road wins against UAB and South Alabama. On Wednesday, Levanovich earned the first Player of the Week honor of his career the conference office announced.

Levanovich led the Hatters to road wins over No. 72 South Alabama and UAB as well as a home victory against Siena this week, going a perfect 3-0 in doubles and winning singles matches in the USA and UAB matches before Coach Pierre Pilote rested the starters and played mostly reserves against Siena. Levanovich dominated USA's Aaron Krisan 6-1, 6-1 on Friday, then provided the match-clinching point the next day in a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 takedown of UAB's Dennis Ehrlich. Stetson, ranked 64th nationally, has won 4 straight and is 6-2 on the year.

The Atlantic Sun Conference is an 11-member league committed to Building Winners for Life. The A-Sun stands for achievement with integrity in both the academic and athletic arenas, with a focus on the balance between the two for our student-athletes. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun boasts six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun includes a blend of the most prestigious and dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.

Other Top Performers:

Enrique Olivares, ETSU (Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela – Sr. – Business) – Picked up ETSU's lone singles win against in-state rival Middle Tennessee Thursday. The No. 15-ranked senior captain rallied for the Bucs dropping the Blue Raiders Victor Melo in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1. Since being ranked No. 9 by the ITA at the start of the season, Olivares has faced a brutal schedule which includes six contests against nationally ranked players.