Men's Tennis | 4/22/2015 10:04:00 AM

Wingate, N.C.-----Wingate men's tennis sophomore Filippo Pezzoli (Milan, Italy) and women's tennis freshman Maria Garcia (San Carlos, Venezuela) have been named Downtown Monroe Athletes of the Week for the week of April 21, 2015. Athletes of the Week are awarded each week during the academic year.

Filippo Pezzoli (Milan, Italy) was named the Most Valuable Player at the 2015 South Atlantic Conference men's tennis tournament over the weekend. The honorable mention All-SAC selection went 2-0 at number five singles and 2-0 at number three doubles, leading Wingate to its second straight SAC Tournament title. 

Pezzoli started the tournament by teaming with Tyler Schofer for a 9-8 win at number three doubles against #36 Queens in the SAC Tournament semifinals. Pezzoli would go on to win the clincher in singles play, prevailing 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 at number five singles to give the Bulldogs a 5-4 victory. 

On Saturday, Pezzoli and Schofer won 8-4 at number three doubles. Pezzoli won 6-1, 1-6, 6-0 at five singles to help lead Wingate to a 5-1 win over 43rd-ranked Tusculum. 

Pezzoli is 18-1 in singles action this season. He has won 15 consecutive matches, while starting the year by picking up a pair of victories against NCAA Division I opponents. The sophomore went 13-0 against SAC opposition this season. He has a career 38-5 singles record, going 25-0 against the SAC.

Maria Garcia (San Carlos, Cojedes, Venezuela) earned MVP honors at the 2015 South Atlantic Conference women's tennis tournament, leading the 49th-ranked Bulldogs to their fourth SAC Tournament title in five years. Garcia went 2-0 at number six singles and 2-0 at number two doubles over the weekend. 

Garcia started her week on Friday, teaming with classmate Oroma Womeodu (Memphis, Tenn.) for an 8-1 win at number two doubles against Anderson in the tournament semifinals. She added a 6-2, 6-0 win at number six singles as the Bulldogs rolled to a 5-0 victory. 

In the championship match Saturday, Garcia and Womeodu prevailed 8-6 at number two doubles. Garcia would go on to win 6-0, 3-6, 6-4 at six singles, putting the Bulldogs on top 4-3. Less than a minute later, junior Caroline Holland (Spartanburg, S.C.) won the clincher to give the Bulldogs the SAC title. 

Garcia earned second team All-SAC doubles accolades during her freshman season. She has posted a 16-3 record in singles play, going 11-1 against conference opponents. Garcia enters the NCAA Tournament on a nine-match winning streak. Garcia and Womeodu are 15-5 in doubles play, going 11-2 against the SAC.