Wins over top-five ranked singles opponents highlight weekend for pair of seniors
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Florida State senior Vahid Mirzadeh and Virginia senior Michael Shabaz have been named the Atlantic Coast Conference Men’s Tennis Co-Players of the Week following their victories over highly nationally-ranked opponents.
The honor is the first of the season for Mirzadeh and the second for Shabaz, who was also recognized as the ACC Player of the Week on Jan. 25.
The 42nd-ranked Mirzadeh scored a 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 win over No. 7 Florida’s fourth-ranked Alexandre Lacroix as the No. 27 Seminoles dropped a 4-3 heartbreaker to the rival Gators. It marked Mirzadeh’s second straight win over a higher ranked player. After previously losing to Lacroix at the 2009 Wilson/ITA Southeast Championships, Mirzadeh (6-2 for the spring season) came up strong in the third set to earn the upset on the No.1 court.
Mirzadeh also helped the Seminoles secure the doubles point vs. Florida. The Wellington, Fla., native teamed with unranked partner Connor Smith to post an 8-5 upset of 11th-ranked Lacroix and Nassim Slilam at No. 1 doubles. Mirzadeh and Smith improved to 9-0 for the spring season.
The 27th-ranked Shabaz led top-ranked Virginia to a pair of 7-0 wins, first vs. No. 71 Maryland in the Cavaliers’ ACC opener last Friday, and then vs. No. 12 Kentucky on Sunday. Shabaz opened the weekend with a 6-4, 6-1 win at No. 1 singles over the Terps’ No. 36 Maros Horny and followed up with a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Kentucky’s second-ranked Eric Quigley.
Shabaz, of Fairfax, Va., also teamed with Drew Courtney for a pair of wins at No.1 doubles. The reigning NCAA doubles champions are still undefeated this season and have won 17 consecutive matches against collegiate competition dating back to last season.
ACC Men’s Tennis Page:
http://www.theacc.com/sports/m-tennis/acc-m-tennis-body.html
