Estevarena, Fieldsend Named Most Outstanding Performers

RICHMOND, VA. - Both the men's and women's tennis teams received high praise from the Colonial Athletic Association on Tuesday, with the CAA declaring Juan Estevarina and Liza Fieldsend as the Most Outstanding Performers at the CAA Tournament for their respective genders.

Estevarena played like a man possessed in top-flight singles during the tournament in Elon, going a perfect 3-0 in singles play, and doing so exclusively against players with all-conference acclaim. He began his run by eliminating second-team All-CAA selection Sebastian Salinas by way of a 6-4, 7-6(3) win en route to the Cougars' 4-1 victory over the JMU Dukes. Estevarena followed that up with an impressive 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 win over CAA Rookie of the Year Felipe Sarrasague, which was crucial considering CofC's narrow 4-3 win over Elon.

The sophomore out of Buenos Aires saved his best for last that weekend, securing the match-deciding point for the Cougars by beating CAA Player of the Year Santtu Leskinen by a score of 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 to give the College its first CAA Men's Tennis Championship in school history. Estevarena, an All-CAA honoree in both singles and doubles, currently sits at a 19-5 record in dual matches this season.

Liza Fieldsend meanwhile compiled a perfect 2-0 mark in No. 1 singles play for a CofC squad that fought to the semi-final round of the tournament. In her opening match, she knocked off Annika Sillanpaa by way of a 6-4, 6-3 win as part of the Cougars 4-0 rout of UNCW. Then, in the closely contested 4-3 loss to No. 36 William & Mary, Fieldsend emerged victorious over Elizaveta Nemchinov 1-6, 6-4, 6-3. Nemchinov entered the match as the two-time CAA Player of the Year, and was ranked No. 108 in Division I.

Fieldsend was a first-team All-CAA recipient in singles after posting a 16-9 record in dual matches. She and partner Sarah Zschunke compiled a 6-2 record as a pair in No. 3 doubles.