ABILENE – In the lead-up to Wednesday night's highly anticipated doubleheader with the league leaders from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Wildcat tennis players
Josh Sheehy and
Lucile Pothier today were voted Southland Conference Player of the Week by the conference's sports information directors.
Sheehy has won this award four times this spring and seven times for his career, while Pothier is a three-time honoree dating back to last season.
Pothier and Sheehy were recognized for their outstanding performances during last week's 4-0 homestand in which they swept back-to-back doubleheaders vs. Midwestern State and Incarnate Word. The men won by scores of 7-0 and 6-1 to improve to 16-9 overall and 3-1 vs. the Southland Conference, and women posted scores of 7-0 and 5-2, lifting their season marks to 16-5 and 7-2.
A sophomore and graduate of Grace Preparatory Academy, Sheehy was a perfect 4-0 last week for the Wildcats. Playing both singles matches in the top flight, Sheehy beat the No. 9 player in Division II, Ramon Toyos, 7-6, 6-2 before topping the Cardinals' Sebastian Mortier 6-1, 6-3.
In doubles, Sheehy teamed up with his younger brother, Jonathan, at the No. 2 slot and won 6-2 versus Midwestern State and 6-3 for the conference win. The siblings are 3-0 in their three matches played together this season.
Sheehy leads Abilene Christian with 15 singles victories this season (all at No. 1). He is tied with his brother Jonathan for most doubles victories with 14.
Pothier, a junior from Mouxy, France, won both of her singles matches and tacked on two doubles wins this past week.
Against NCAA Division II No. 15 Midwestern State, Pothier defeated Daria Panferova 6-2, 6-2 in No. 1 singles after winning at No. 2 doubles 6-1 with teammate Sarah Adams.
The Wildcats then hosted UIW where Pothier improved to 8-1 in conference singles with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Rachel Sadiq. Pothier played doubles with
Whitney Williams, and the duo continued its undefeated league season as a pair with a 6-3 win. The two have won their last eight matches when playing together overall.
Pothier is now 13-4 overall and 8-1 in league play heading into a crucial match Wednesday against 8-1 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
The Islanders are 1.0 game ahead of the Wildcats in the women's standings, so in order for ACU to win the regular-season title it has to win its final two duals vs. Corpus Christi and Stephen F. Austin (April 22) and then have the Islanders beat 8-2 Central Arkansas in their season finale on April 20 in Belton, Texas.
ACU has a third-place record of 3-1 on the men's side, placing them behind the 3-0 Islanders and 4-0 Lamar Cardinals. The Wildcats need to beat the Islanders in their home finale, and hope that Corpus Christi beats Lamar at home this Friday in order to clinch a share of the regular-season title as all four teams would have a 4-1 record.
Each school's sports information director nominates and votes for the players of the week, though is not permitted to vote for his or her own player. To receive honorable mention, a player must receive votes from 25 percent of the Southland sports information directors.
Abilene Christian 2016-17 Players of the Week
Sept. 5 | Austin Kilcullen (Football, Special Teams)
Sept. 12 | Dallas Sealey (Football, Offensive)
Sept. 20 | Kelsie Roberts (Soccer, Defensive) and Sydney Newton (Soccer, Goalkeeper)
Oct. 2 | Lauren Walker (Volleyball, Defensive)
Oct. 11 | Sydney Newton (Soccer, Goalkeeper)
Oct. 24 | Dallas Sealey (Football, Offensive)
Nov. 7 | Nik Grau (Football, Special Teams)
Nov. 21 | Sydney Shelstead (Basketball)
Dec. 19 | Alexis Mason (Basketball)
Jan. 9 | Suzzy Dimba (Basketball)
Jan. 24 |
Hunter Holman (Men's Tennis)
Jan. 31 |
Josh Sheehy (Men's Tennis)
March 7 |
Josh Sheehy (Men's Tennis)
March 7 | Derek Scott (Baseball)
March 14 |
Josh Sheehy (Men's Tennis)
March 29 | Taylor Yantis Woods (Women's Track and Field)
April 3 | Taylor Brown (softball)
April 18 |
Josh Sheehy (Men's tennis),
Lucile Pothier (Women's Tennis)
