ECAC Men's Tennis Release | ECAC Women's Tennis Release
Carmen Lai and
Flyora Shiyanova of the New York University women's tennis team and
Matt DeMichiel of the NYU men's tennis team were all recognized by the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) for their performances during the month of March.
Lai (Division III Player of the Month) and Shiyanova (Division III Rookie of the Month) helped lead the Violets, now ranked #30
nationally and #11 in the
Northeast by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), to a 3-0 record last month. The duo paired up at first doubles for NYU and was a perfect 3-0. They began with an 8-4 win against their William Smith College opponents as the Violets defeated the Herons 7-2 on March 4. Then, during a 6-3 home win against the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on March 6, the pair closed out their Engineer opponents 8-1. The senior-freshman duo closed out the month with a hard-fought 9-8 win over their University Athletic Association (UAA) counterparts from Brandeis University, as NYU topped the Judges 5-4 on March 13, also at home.
Individually, Shiyanova posted a perfect 3-0 record at second singles. She began with a straight-set win (6-3, 6-1) over Michaelann Denton of William Smith. The rookie then bested Maria Salmon of RPI in three sets (3-6, 6-3, 7-6(5-0)). The Russian native closed out with another straight-set victory (6-1, 6-2) over Kerren Khromchenko of Brandeis.
Lai was also 3-0 competing at #1 singles. She began with a straight-set (6-3, 6-3) win over Hannah More of the Herons fololwed by a 6-1, 6-1 win over Emily Laurilliard of the Engineers. The Hong Kong native closed out with her third straight-set victory (6-4, 6-3), this time over Haley Cohen of the Judges.
DeMichiel (Division III Player of the Month), a UAA Athlete of the Week on March 7, helped lead NYU to a 2-3 record in the month of March. The junior posted a combined record of 7-3. First, during a 6-3 loss at Skidmore College on March 5, DeMichiel defeated Ted Berkowitz in straight sets (6-3, 7-5) at fifth singles. Then, on March 6 when NYU topped Vassar College 6-3 at home, the Hewlett, NY, native bested Jamie Anderson 6-1, 6-0 at #5 singles. DeMichiel picked up another straight-set win (6-2, 6-0) on the road, this time at #4 singles over Harry Nichols of Hobert College (NYU won 7-2). DeMichiel's only loss came to Tyler Ng of Brandeis on March 13 in three tough sets (7-6, 6-7, 10-7) as the Violets fell 7-2. He closed out with a three-set win (6-4, 4-6, 10-8) at third singles over Jack August of The College of New Jersey as NYU fell 6-3 on March 30.
In doubles play, teamed with
Yanik Parsch at #3 doubles, DeMichiel began with an 8-3 loss to the Thoroughbreds, followed by wins over the Brewers (8-3), Statesmen (8-6) and Judges (8-4), before closing out the month with a tough 9-7 loss to the Lions.
These are the first ECAC honors of the season for all three players, and the first of DeMichiel and Shiyanova's career. Lai was a three-time weekly honoree as a junior in 2014-15.
Lai, Shiyanova and the women next host SUNY Geneseo at the Stadium Tennis Center in the Bronx, NY, on Saturday, April 9 starting at 12:00 pm. DeMichiel and the rest of the men's teams returns to action on Sunday, April 10, in New London, CT, against the United States Coast Guard Academy beginning at 12:00 pm.
