NORFOLK, Va., April 7, 2021—Norfolk State junior Federico Rebecchini was named Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Men’s Tennis Player of the Week, presented by Coca-Cola, the conference office announced today, and teammate Ivan Ivars was named Rookie of the Week. Norfolk State senior Zoe Fraser was named Women’s Tennis Player of the Week and teammate Lydia Oviedo was named Rookie of the Week.
 
Rebecchini (Jr., Verona, Italy) was a perfect 6-0 this past week, all against MEAC competition, in helping the Spartans clinch the Northern Division. He opened the week with a No. 2 singles 7-6 (4), 6-1 win over Howard’s Justin Cadeau before defeating Coppin State’s Sergiu Medesan 7-5, 6-4 at No. 2 and Morgan State’s Serhii Kharchev 6-4, 6-4 at the No. 1 spot. Rebecchini was also 3-0 in doubles play.
 
Ivars (Fr., Alicante, Spain) defeated Morgan State’s Sebastian Lopez 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (2) at No. 5 singles to clinch not only the match against the Bears, but the Spartans’ Northern Division crown and No. 1 seed in the upcoming MEAC Tennis Championships. He also picked up a doubles win over Howard during the week, winning 6-2 at the No. 3 spot.
 
Fraser (Sr., Virginia Beach, Va.) went undefeated in MEAC play this past week, notching two singles wins and a pair of doubles victories. She won 6-4, 6-3 over Howard’s Emnet Simunyola and 6-1, 6-2 over Coppin State’s Christy Turner, while also recording a pair of 6-3 wins in doubles play.
 
Oviedo (Fr., Tlalnepantla, Mexico) was a perfect 4-0 in the week against MEAC competition, notching singles and doubles victories against both Howard and Coppin State. Against Howard, she won 6-3, 6-3 over Aria Ragas and took her doubles match 6-4. Then she defeated Coppin State’s Mackenzie Jones 6-0, 6-0 and recorded a 6-2 doubles victory.
 
Other Top Performers
Sergiu Medesan (Coppin State) defeated The College of New Jersey’s Matthew Michibata at No. 2 singles, 6-2, 6-3.
 
Arielle Nealy (Florida A&M) picked up the Rattlers’ lone point against Mercer, defeating Lekha Varudandi 4-6, 6-1, 1-0 (10-4).
 
Alexandra Blackwell (Howard) defeated Norfolk State’s Andrea Barcenas 7-6, 6-0 and notched her first collegiate doubles win against Delaware State.
 
Romani Mayers (Howard) defeated Norfolk State’s Ivan Ivars 6-3, 4-6, 10-7 for his second singles win of the season.
 
Pierce Westbrook (Howard) won 6-4, 4-6, 10-8 over Ibrahim Abbas of Norfolk State.
 
Vasil Ivanov (North Carolina A&T State) defeated Amit Baran of North Carolina Central 6-4, 7-5.
 
Stipan Madzar (North Carolina Central) defeated North Carolina A&T State’s Nicholas Arduh 6-2, 6-0 at No. 1 singles.
 
Rachida Berjane (South Carolina State) defeated North Carolina Central’s Josefa Fernandez 6-2, 6-4 at the No. 1 spot.