NORFOLK, Va., March 1, 2023—North Carolina Central graduate Sebastian Pino was named Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Men’s Tennis Player of the Week, presented by Coca-Cola, the conference office announced today, while North Carolina Central’s Kareem Abdul Hakim was named Men’s Tennis Rookie of the Week. Norfolk State sophomore Aleksandra Evdokimova was named Women’s Tennis Player of the Week, and North Carolina Central’s Candice Bernier was named Women’s Rookie of the Week.
 
Pino (Gr., Caracas, Venezuela) picked up a 6-2, 6-4 win over UNC Greensboro’s David Filsberg at the No. 1 position in keying the Eagles’ win over the Spartans.
 
Hakim (Fr., Jakarta, Indonesia) was key in NCCU’s win over UNC Greensboro, winning his No. 3 doubles match along with Facundo Olmedo, 7-6, before defeating Tymofiy Khrystyuk 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 in the No. 3 singles position.
 
Evdokimova (So., Moscow, Russia) was clutch for a shorthanded Norfolk State against Loyola (Md.), winning her singles match in the No. 1 spot, 6-0, 5-7, 1-0 (10-3) over Olivia Tracey. She also won at No. 1 doubles, pairing with Laura Ruiz for a 7-5 victory.
 
Bernier (Fr., Repentigny, Canada) defeated Marie Balanda of Queens Charlotte 6-4, 6-4 at No. 3 singles, and she also teamed with Kennedy Hill for a 6-3 win at No. 1 singles.
 
Other Top Performers
Selah Stibbins (Howard) won 6-3, 6-1 over Villanova’s Emi Callahan.
 
Mikael Carpenter (Morgan State) defeated UDC’s Louis Mangeon 6-4, 6-2 at No. 1 singles.
 
Hugo Massoni Lena (Norfolk State) went 2-1 in singles play this past week, notching wins over Gustav Wagen (Drexel), 6-0, 6-3, and Loyola (Md.)’s George Cavo, 6-3, 7-5.
 
Boris Lunin (Norfolk State) defeated Oliver Davey of Loyola (Md.), 5-7, 6-2, 1-0 (10-5) at no. 3 singles.