http://www.miac-online.org/news/2013/5/7/MTEN_0507131047.aspx

MIAC Men's Tennis Athlete-of-the-Week

Mya Smith-Dennis, Gustavus
Savage, Minn. / Burnsville

The Gustavus men's tennis team continued its dominance in the MIAC over the weekend as the Gusties rolled to a pair of wins en route to their third-straight conference postseason title. Leading the way was junior Mya Smith-Dennis (Savage, Minn./Burnsville), who won all four of his matches - two apiece at No. 2 singles and No. 1 doubles. For his postseason performance, Smith-Dennis was named the final MIAC Men's Tennis Athlete-of-the-Week for the 2013 season.

Smith-Dennis got the Gusties off to a great start in both the 5-0 semifinal win over Saint John's, and the 8-1 championship victory over Carleton. He teamed up with Amrik Donkena to score an 8-2 No. 1 doubles win against the Johnnies, and the duo were 8-6 winners over the Knights' top doubles team. Smith-Dennis scored a 6-1, 6-0, victory at No. 2 singles against SJU, and he was a 6-3, 6-2, winner in the title match against Carleton. This season, Smith-Dennis is 19-12 in singles competition and ranked No. 9 in the region, and he has a 21-8 doubles record, and he and Donkena are the No. 2-ranked doubles team in the region.

With MIAC regular-season and Playoff championships in their trophy case for 2013, Smith-Dennis and his teammates now turn their focus to the 2013 NCAA Division III Men's Tennis Tournament. The Gusties (22-9) will open national tournament play with a first-round bye, and will face UW-Whitewater (19-11) in the second round. The match will take place Saturday at 12 p.m. central time in Whitewater, Wis., at Wangerin Courts. The winner will play the next day, also at noon, in a third-round contest.

MIAC Women's Tennis Athlete-of-the-Week

Bridget Doyle, Carleton
Mendota Heights, Minn. / Visitation

The Carleton women's tennis team had an outstanding weekend, claiming their second-straight MIAC Women's Tennis Playoff championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. Senior Bridget Doyle (Mendota Heights, Minn./Visitation) was a huge key to the Knights success, winning both her doubles matches and going 1-0 in singles play as Carleton defeated Gustavus and St. Thomas to claim the title. For her postseason performance, Doyle received the final MIAC Women's Tennis Athlete-of-the-Week honor of the 2013 season.

Doyle's biggest win of the weekend, perhaps, came in a three-set thriller to get a crucial point against the Gusties. She came back to score a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, win at No. 1 singles in Carleton's 5-1 win. She also held a 6-4, 1-0, lead in singles play against the Tommies when the title match reached a 5-0 decision. Doyle also teamed up with Anne Lombardi at No. 1 doubles to defeat Gustavus 8-3, and for an 8-1 win over UST. This season, Doyle and Lombardi are the No. 2-ranked doubles tandem in the region.

Now that the Knights have their second-straight MIAC Playoff championship secured, Doyle and her teammates will return to the Division III Women's Tennis Tournament. Carleton (15-7) will travel to Chicago for regional play at the Stagg Field Courts. The Knights open against Grinnell (14-8) in the first round Friday, and the winner will advance to meet UW-Whitewater in the second round on Saturday.