University of Massachusets Athletics
Akimova And van Tonder Named UMass Student-Athletes Of The Week
October 05, 2021 | Field Hockey, Tennis, Athletics Department
AMHERST, Mass. – Polina Akimova from tennis and Marlise van Tonder from field hockey were named the UMass Student-Athletes of the Week presented by UMassFive College Credit Union on Tuesday morning. The pair will be recognized at the weekly UMass Sports Luncheon on Wednesday at 12 p.m. at Berkshire Dining Commons.
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Akimova (Novosibirsk, Russia)Â went undefeated last weekend at the Northeast Regional Championships at Army, defeating players from Fairfield, Boston College, and Boston University in order to qualify for the Super Regional Championships where the best 16 players in the region will be competing at Princeton in two weeks. Akimova is 6-0 in singles play this fall and has only lost one set in her six matches.
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van Tonder (Pretoria, South Africa), meanwhile, went 1-1 on the week allowing three goals and registering 10 saves. She backstopped UMass on Sunday at Boston College, making eight saves and steering aside six-of-eight Eagle shootout bids. She is eighth in the NCAA with a .810 save percentage and 13th in the nation with a 1.20 goals against average this season.
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The victory at Boston College snapped a two-game losing skid to the Eagles dating back to 2018 and is also UMass' highest win over an NFHCA ranked opponent since Sept. 25, 2016 when the Minutewomen knocked off No. 9 Boston College in overtime, 3-2.
Free parking for the luncheon is available in Lot 33 on University Drive (click here for voucher). In addition, metered parking in the Southwest Horseshoe and along Fearing Street is available.
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Akimova (Novosibirsk, Russia)Â went undefeated last weekend at the Northeast Regional Championships at Army, defeating players from Fairfield, Boston College, and Boston University in order to qualify for the Super Regional Championships where the best 16 players in the region will be competing at Princeton in two weeks. Akimova is 6-0 in singles play this fall and has only lost one set in her six matches.
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van Tonder (Pretoria, South Africa), meanwhile, went 1-1 on the week allowing three goals and registering 10 saves. She backstopped UMass on Sunday at Boston College, making eight saves and steering aside six-of-eight Eagle shootout bids. She is eighth in the NCAA with a .810 save percentage and 13th in the nation with a 1.20 goals against average this season.
Â
The victory at Boston College snapped a two-game losing skid to the Eagles dating back to 2018 and is also UMass' highest win over an NFHCA ranked opponent since Sept. 25, 2016 when the Minutewomen knocked off No. 9 Boston College in overtime, 3-2.
Free parking for the luncheon is available in Lot 33 on University Drive (click here for voucher). In addition, metered parking in the Southwest Horseshoe and along Fearing Street is available.
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Players Mentioned
/ Tennis
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