INDIANAPOLIS – Some close finishes on the courts were featured in league play as the series of Great Midwest Athletic Conference Men’s & Women’s Tennis Athletes of the Week continued with Wednesday’s release.
 
In the men’s standings, Cedarville, Hillsdale and Findlay, have each won their conference opener while Tiffin and Kentucky Wesleyan still await their first Great Midwest match.
 
Walsh is on top of the women’s field at 2-0 while Cedarville and Hillsdale both won their first conference games. 
 
Men’s Athlete of the Week
Jorge Barnuevo
Findlay
Sophomore
San Javier, Murcia (IES Mar Menor)
 
Barnuevo has played whatever position head coach Doug Linden has requested, seeing time at No. 1, 2 and 3, singles at some point in his sophomore season. 
 
The Oilers improved to 7-4 on the season after defeating 2018 conference championship finalist Walsh at home by a final count of 5-2. 
 
Barnuevo excelled in singles and doubles, contributing to the cause with wins in each matchup. 
 
Barnuevo improved to 6-5 in singles this year with a three-set win over Filipp Kulynych, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. He also worked with two-time conference athlete of the week Tomas Kmetko for a 6-2 win at No. 1 doubles. 
 
The tandem of Kmetko and Barnuevo has worked well to the tune of a 6-2 record in doubles this spring. 
 
Women’s Athlete of the Week
Sofia Khairutdinova
Walsh
Sophomore
St. Petersburg, Russia
 
With a last name that would probably trip even the national spelling bee champion, Khairutdinova provided decisive moments as the Cavaliers earned conference victories on the road at Findlay and Tiffin. 
 
The sophomore played No. 6 singles in both matchups, which were 4-3 decisions for the league-leading Cavaliers.
 
She defeated Findlay’s Mikaela Hindenlang in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4, to clinch the win over the Oilers and also bested Shea Foster of Tiffin in three sets, 6-1, 5-7, 6-3. 
 
Khairutdinova helped the Cavaliers up their season record to 11-6 overall.