Tuesday, 03/22/2011

Rock Hill, S.C.----Wingate University senior Kara Stasikelis (Greer, S.C.) has been named the South Atlantic Conference women’s tennis Player of the Week, league officials announced Tuesday. She is the third different Bulldog to earn Player of the Week honors this season.

Stasikelis led the Bulldogs to a perfect 3-0 week in SAC play, as Wingate improved to 14-1 overall and 5-0 in the SAC. The ‘Dogs are currently riding a 12-match winning streak. They are ranked 39th nationally and seventh in the region.

The J.L. Mann High School product went 3-0 in number one singles action on the week and 3-0 in number one doubles play. She started her week with a 6-2, 6-3 win in number one singles against Catawba, while teaming with sophomore Kelli Ferguson (Concord, N.C.) for an 8-1 doubles win. Stasikelis won 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 in Wingate’s 7-2 win over Tusculum, while notching an 8-5 doubles win with Ferguson. She capped her week with a 6-0, 6-2 victory over Carson-Newman, while Stasikelis and Ferguson won 8-3 in doubles action.

Stasikelis is 10-5 in singles play this season, with her 15 matches coming in the number one slot. She is 4-1 in SAC play and has won her last three matches. Stasikelis is also 10-5 in doubles play, with 15 matches in the number one slot. In 2010, she achieved an academic and athletic double-double, as she was named to the All-SAC team and the ITA Scholar-Athlete squad.

The Bulldogs have another big week coming up, as they look to remain unbeaten in conference play. Wingate will host Mars Hill College Friday at 2 p.m., then host Brevard College Saturday at 12 noon.