SPARTANBURG, S.C. – ETSU’s Laylo Bakhodirova has been named the Southern Conference women’s tennis player of the week for all matches played to this point in the spring, the conference announced on Tuesday.
In singles play, the junior went 3-1 with three ranked wins. She opened the spring season with a win over Kentucky’s Carlota Molina, ranked No. 100, making quick work of her in a 6-2, 6-0 straight-set victory at No. 1 as the Bucs fell in a close 4-3 match on Jan. 14. Later that afternoon, Bakhodirova and Molina each moved down to play in the No. 2 flight, but Bakhodirova again emerged with a 6-0, 6-2 win in another 4-3 loss for her squad. The native of Tashkent, Uzbekistan, battled in a tough three-set match against Virginia Tech’s Tamara Barad Itzhaki, falling 6-2, 5-7, 6-8 (7-9) at No. 1 on Jan. 22. The following day, Bakhodirova picked up a win over eighth-ranked NC State’s Abigail Rencheli, ranked 25th in singles, coming from behind for a 4-6, 6-0, 1-0 (10-8) victory.
In doubles action, Bakhodirova and partner Alejandra Morales went 3-1 at the top flight. The pair fell 6-3 in the season opener against Kentucky’s top pair but rallied that afternoon to take a 6-4 win in the second match of the doubleheader. Bakhodirova and Morales downed Virginia Tech’s top duo, 6-2, and bested NC State’s top pair 6-4.
ETSU (0-4) plays at Middle Tennessee on Friday, Jan. 28, and hosts its first contest of the spring on Sunday, Jan. 30, welcoming Belmont.
Also nominated: Julia Adams (Furman), Naya Tillitt (Mercer), Ally Hayduk (Samford), Jessie Young (Chattanooga) and Miray Konar (Western Carolina).
SoCon Women’s Tennis Players of the Week
Jan. 25 – Laylo Bakhodirova, ETSU
- www.SoConSports.com -