The Hawai‘i tandem of Nils Schuhmann and Cindy Nguyen excelled against their conference opponents to bring home the Big West Men's and Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week awards.
Schuhmann Does His Part In Loss To Aggies
Hawai“i senior Nils Schuhmann (Karlstadt, Germany/Johann-Schoner Gymnasium) notched Big West Men’s Tennis Athlete of the Week honors as he won twice in a conference showdown with UC Davis.
Despite the Rainbow Warriors losing the overall match, 4-3, to the Aggies, Schuhmann did his part to get his team the victory. He teamed with Joakim Pinola at No. 1 doubles to post a 6-2 win over the Aggie duo of Bryce McKelvie and Brett Bacharach, helping UH capture the doubles point. Then, at No. 1 singles, Schuhmann overcame dehydration to gut out a three-set win over Alec Adamson. Schuhmann fought back from a first set deficit to defeat Adamson, 5-7, 6-4, 10-8.
Others nominated: Corey Pang (Cal Poly); Morgan Mays (UC Santa Barbara)
Nguyen Continues To Roll In Singles
In less than two full seasons, Hawai‘i standout Cindy Nguyen (Long Beach, Calif./Millikan HS) is tied for sixth in Big West history with her fifth Women’s Tennis Athlete of the Week award.
The nation’s No. 83-ranked singles player, Nguyen posted a 4-0 mark from her top spot on the Rainbow Wahine ladder to help her team go 3-1 last week, including a win over then No. 66-ranked Illinois. She defeated the Fighting Illini’s Alexis Casati, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. Nguyen also defeated two Big West opponents in straight sets – Cal Poly’s Louise Oxnevad (6-0, 6-4) and UC Santa Barbara’s Jaimee Gilbertson (6-2, 6-2). Nguyen also won twice at No. 2 doubles with partner Rebecca Faltusz.
Nguyen has now won five straight matches and 11 of her last 12 to improve to 12-4 overall in dual battles. She played with Faltusz for the first time this season and the pair went 2-1, including an 8-2 victory over Melissa Baker and Luisa Ortiz Candido of UCSB.
Others nominated: Zoe Oedekerk (Cal Poly); Kristen Poei (CSUN); Julie Gerard (Long Beach State); Frederique Sleiffer (UC Davis); Kat Facey (UC Irvine); Jaimee Gilbertson (UC Santa Barbara)