INDIANAPOLIS – Cedarville and Hillsdale shared respective Great Midwest Athletic Conference Tennis Athletes of the Week honors as announced on Thursday.
 
Men’s Athlete of the Week
Timmy O’Brien
Cedarville
Senior
Columbia, TN (Zion Christian Academy)
 
O’Brien and the Yellow Jackets were able to secure a pair of home wins over the past week of competition against Wittenberg and Ohio Northern.
 
O’Brien went a combined 4-0 in both singles and doubles matches in each contest at the Johnson-Murdoch Complex. He played No. 3 singles and was No. 1 doubles in those lineups for Cedarville.
 
O’Brien came from behind in both singles matches to score wins over his opponents. After falling in a first-set tiebreaker to Connor Ruble of Wittenberg, O’Brien won the second set, 6-1, and finished the third set with a long and decisive tiebreaker finish.
 
He had to work back from a first-set setback vs. ONU as well, eventually defeating Zach Beaschler 4-6, 7-5, 6-1.
 
His doubles partner in both wins was Toshi Watanabe. Cedarville’s season record also improved to 3-0 in the fall.
 
Women’s Athlete of the Week
Sophia Spinazze
Hillsdale
Senior
Toledo, OH (Central Catholic HS)
 
Spinazze, the Chargers and most of the Great Midwest were competing at the ITA Regionals in Indianapolis, a large bracket with talented Midwest Region programs in Division II.
 
Spinazze and her doubles partner, Julia Wagner, roared through the Doubles B Draw to win a consolation title after clinching three consecutive victories.
 
It was an impressive weekend showing for the senior, who also carved out a straight set singles victory in the main draw.
 
Spinazze and Wagner beat pairings from Purdue Northwest in the quarterfinals, Maryville in the semifinals and Grand Valley State in the finals, 8-2.