Wednesday, March 03, 2010

MACON, Ga. – Jacksonville’s Tatiana Soldatova claimed her first A-Sun Player of the Week award after leading the Dolphins to three victories in the past week, the conference office announced Wednesday.

Soldatova helped capture victories against FAMU, Bethune-Cookman and Duquesne for Jacksonville while dropping just one set. The senior posted a 6-0 record for No. I singles and doubles play, including a dramatic three set clinching match against FAMU. Playing in the No. 1 spot all season, Soldatova has dropped just one match and three sets in singles play while losing just two doubles matches.

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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
Yevgeniya Stupak, ETSU (Sr. - Singles/Doubles - Kyiv, Ukraine - Business) – Stupak stands again as the only A-Sun player to be ranked in the ITA this week. Overall, the Preseason Player of the Year ranks No. 117 this spring. This past week, the Kyiv, Ukraine native picked up a pair of victories against Davidson on Friday. Stupak first dropped Virginia Berry in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, and in doubles with junior teammate Kelly Holtzhausen, dropped Berry and teammate Teresa Wang, 8-4. Stupak stood out of ETSU's 6-1 win against Wofford Monday night due to a slight ankle injury.

Lisa Sutton, Campbell (Jr. - No. I Singles/No. 2 Doubles - Kelsall, England - Journalism) – Sutton led Campbell to a victory in its only match of the week. Campbell defeated Kennesaw State, 4-3, to open conference play. The Kelsall, England native earned her second singles victory in a row at No. I singles as she knocked off Vera Shkundina, 6-2, 6-1, and teamed with Borislava Nikolova to defeat Iesha Holton and Ayano Tanaka, 8-3, at No. 2 doubles. Sutton has won two straight singles matches and stands undefeated in doubles play with Nikolova.

Francisca Valderrama, USC Upstate (Fr. - No. I Singles - Santiago, Chile - Undeclared) – In singles, Valderrama posted a 6-1, 6-3 win against Mercer’s Jennifer Lada. In doubles, the Santiago, Chile native posted an 8-2 win against Lada and Amalia Bugge with partner Monica Pezzotti.

Priscilla Villemond, FGCU (Sr. – Singles/Doubles - Les Bordes, France - Marketing) – Villemond improved to 6-0 this season with a pair of singles wins. The marketing major defeated Providence's Melanie Albert, 6-0, 6-0, and beat Boston College's Olga Khmylev, 6-4, 6-2.