SPARTANBURG, S.C. – ETSU senior Laylo Bakhodirova has been named the Southern Conference women’s tennis player of the week for all matches played from March 21-27, the conference announced on Tuesday. The award is selected by the league office.
 
Bakhodirova went a combined 4-0 on the week as the Bucs earned league wins over Wofford, 6-1, and Samford, 7-0.
 
Against the Terriers on Friday, Bakhodirova and Mariya Shumeika won a tight 7-6 (9-7) affair to clinch the doubles point, topping Georgia Fischer and Lily Woods at No. 1. At the top singles spot, Bakhodirova dropped just one game against Lily Woods, rolling to a 6-1, 6-0 win.
 
Two days later at Samford, Bakhodirova and Shumeika clinched the doubles point with a 6-4 win over Samantha Nanere and Lindsay Song at the top flight. In singles play, the senior from Tashkent, Uzbekistan, earned a 6-3, 6-4 win over Alexis Lopez at No. 1, clinching the match.
 
Bakhodirova moved to 13-3 in singles and 12-3 in doubles on the season.
 
The weekly award is the seventh of Bakhodirova’s career and fourth this season. Only three other SoCon players have earned the honor more times in their careers.
 
ETSU (12-5, 3-0 SoCon) steps back out of conference play to visit Charlotte on Friday before welcoming Middle Tennessee on Sunday for its final nonconference tilt.
 
Also nominated: Rozalie Dohnalova (Chattanooga), Madison Schwarz (Western Carolina) and Brianna Wilbur (Wofford).
 
SoCon Women’s Tennis Players of the Week
Jan. 17          Laylo Bakhodirova, ETSU
Jan. 24          Jessie Young, Chattanooga
Jan. 31          Laylo Bakhodirova, ETSU
Feb. 7            Alexis Lopez, Samford
Feb. 14          Sara Snyder, Furman
Feb. 21          Laylo Bakhodirova, ETSU
Feb. 28          Jade Groen, Western Carolina
March 7         Sara Snyder, Furman
March 14       Alexis Lopez, Samford
March 21       Ralitsa Alexandrova, ETSU
March 28       Laylo Bakhodirova, ETSU