Morkel, Dougah Earn Big South Conference Weekly Honors

CHARLOTTE – UNC Asheville's women's tennis team swept the Big South Conference weekly awards as Lize Alet Morkel earned the conference's Player of the Week, while Ami Grace Dougah was named Freshman of the Week, the league announced Wednesday.

Morkel began the week with a strong performance, helping the Bulldogs take down Mars Hill, 7-0, Tuesday afternoon. She scored a straight-sets victory at No. 1 singles against Ines Rodriguez. After a dominating 6-0 performance in the first set, she had to battle in the second, but emerged victorious, 7-5.

Morkel teamed up with Rosie Dickson at No. 1 doubles to defeat Mars Hill's Rodriguez and Evan Lake, 6-4. The duo reunited, Sunday, against Wofford and helped Asheville open the match with the doubles point, taking down the Terriers' pairing of Liz Massie and Jenna Vroman.

At No. 2 singles, Morkel helped the Bulldogs pick up another point by defeating Massie in straight sets. After a tight first set won via tiebreaker, 7-6, Morkel finished off the match with a 6-1 victory in Set Two.

A native of West Cape, South Africa, Morkel earned the third Big South Player of the Week nod of her career and first since March 20 last year. She is the second Bulldog to be named Player of the Week this season, as senior Emily Sidor earned the distinction, January 29.

Dougah opened her week with a victory at No. 2 singles against Mars Hill's Lake, winning two convincing sets, 6-1, 6-2. She joined with fellow freshman Brianna Taranto at No. 2 doubles and upended Sophia Pelaez and Victoria Franklin, 6-1.

Dougah again joined with Taranto at No. 2 doubles, helping the Bulldogs take the doubles point off of Wofford, Sunday afternoon, as they defeated the Terriers' Kay Kluska and Lilie Steryous, 6-3.

The freshman then moved to No. 1 singles and took down Wofford's Vroman in straight sets. The first was a nail-biter, as Dougah won 7-6 in a tiebreaker. She followed up with a 6-3 result in the second set to give the Bulldogs their third point of the dual.

A native of Lawrenceville, Ga., it is the first weekly conference honor for Dougah in her young career. She is the first Big South Freshman of the Week for the Bulldogs since Morkel won it last season, April 10.