FOREST, Va. -- Solid efforts by Virginia Wesleyan College tennis rookies Marissa Cifuentes and Kenny Downing have earned both Marlin student-athletes recognition as the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Players of the Week.

Virginia Wesleyan's women played four matches last week and Cifuentes (Virginia Beach/Bayside) won four times at No. 3 singles, all in straight set victories, including three against ODAC opponents.  She also won three of four doubles matches, including two at the No. 2 flight with partner Hannah Rice (Glen Allen/J.R. Tucker), and one at the No. 1 spot with partner Mia Proctor.  Cifuentes is now 4-2 in singles overall and 3-3 in doubles.

Downing (Washington, D.C.) enjoyed similar success for the VWC men, who competed in three matches and won all three.  Downing played the No. 2 flight in singles in all three matches and posted key three-set victories that helped the Marlins to wins over ODAC foes Guilford College and Randolph-Macon College.  He was a two-set winner against Penn St.-Abington. Downing finished 2-1 at No. 1 doubles with partner Graham Wilson (Newport News/Menchville).  He is now 2-2 in doubles and 3-1 in singles.

--AMDG--