DePaul University Athletics
Vito Tonejc Honored as BIG EAST Male Athlete of the Week
3/17/2021 3:32:00 PM | MEN'S TENNIS
Tennis standout has led DePaul to four wins in a row and six of the last seven
CHICAGO – After winning the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) National Player of the Week award last week, Vito Tonejc added to his accolades with the BIG EAST Male Athlete of the Week honor for tennis.
Wednesday's recognition is the first of the season for Tonejc and DePaul, encompassing the last two weeks of performances.
The junior from Zagreb, Croatia made history last week when he became the first DePaul men's tennis player to win the coveted national award. He was also the first men's tennis player in the BIG EAST to ever receive the honor.
Tonejc was recognized by the BIG EAST after leading DePaul (7-2) to four consecutive victories---a 7-0 sweep of the NAIA's No. 3 team in the nation Cardinal Stritch, a 4-2 triumph over a Northern Illinois team that won its first 10 matches of the season, a 4-3 decision over Drake and a 6-1 win over Chicago State.
The BIG EAST Freshman of the Year in 2019 began his two-week run with a 6-1, 6-0 victory March 5 over Niccolo Rossi of Cardinal Stritch at No. 1 singles.
That was followed by a match-clinching 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 win March 6 over NIU's best, Bor Schweiger Muzar in the top singles slot. Muzar brought a 6-2 record into Lakeshore Sport & Fitness.
Twenty-four hours later, Tonejc took down Drake's best, Oliver Johansson, by a score of 6-1, 7-6(7-5).
Over the last two weeks, Tonejc went 4-0 including a doubles triumph over NIU teaming with Luuk Wassenaar.
Tonejc has racked up a sparkling 7-1 singles record in the dual-match season slotting in at the No. 1 position all but two times. He has won six singles matches in a row even as coach Matt Brothers' team has won six of its last seven team matches.
Tonejc and the Band of Brothers are focused on extending their winning streak to five with Saturday's road match against UIC that starts at 2 p.m.
Wednesday's recognition is the first of the season for Tonejc and DePaul, encompassing the last two weeks of performances.
The junior from Zagreb, Croatia made history last week when he became the first DePaul men's tennis player to win the coveted national award. He was also the first men's tennis player in the BIG EAST to ever receive the honor.
Tonejc was recognized by the BIG EAST after leading DePaul (7-2) to four consecutive victories---a 7-0 sweep of the NAIA's No. 3 team in the nation Cardinal Stritch, a 4-2 triumph over a Northern Illinois team that won its first 10 matches of the season, a 4-3 decision over Drake and a 6-1 win over Chicago State.
The BIG EAST Freshman of the Year in 2019 began his two-week run with a 6-1, 6-0 victory March 5 over Niccolo Rossi of Cardinal Stritch at No. 1 singles.
That was followed by a match-clinching 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 win March 6 over NIU's best, Bor Schweiger Muzar in the top singles slot. Muzar brought a 6-2 record into Lakeshore Sport & Fitness.
Twenty-four hours later, Tonejc took down Drake's best, Oliver Johansson, by a score of 6-1, 7-6(7-5).
Over the last two weeks, Tonejc went 4-0 including a doubles triumph over NIU teaming with Luuk Wassenaar.
Tonejc has racked up a sparkling 7-1 singles record in the dual-match season slotting in at the No. 1 position all but two times. He has won six singles matches in a row even as coach Matt Brothers' team has won six of its last seven team matches.
Tonejc and the Band of Brothers are focused on extending their winning streak to five with Saturday's road match against UIC that starts at 2 p.m.
Players Mentioned
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