Ilarslan Russo Named GNAC Corvias Rookie of the Week, Again
Ariel Ilarslan Russo of the Suffolk men’s tennis team picked up his second straight GNAC Corivas Rookie of the Week honor. The freshman earned the recognition, his third weekly honor of the season, after going unbeaten in his pair of appearances over a 3-0 week for the blue-and-gold.
BOSTON – Ariel Ilarslan Russo of the Suffolk men's tennis team picked up his second straight GNAC Corivas Rookie of the Week honor. The freshman earned the recognition, his third weekly honor of the season, after going unbeaten in his pair of appearances over a 3-0 week for the blue-and-gold.
Ilarslan Russo opened the week versus UMass Dartmouth where he teamed up with Mike DeFeliece for an 8-5 victory over the Corsairs pair of Anthony Joseph and Eli Brooks on court one. He carried that winning momentum in singles play, as the Panama native bested Tristin Viale, 6-0, 6-1 in the first spot to help the Rams defeat Dartmouth, 8-1.
Two days later, he partnered with Omar Azzaoui for Suffolk's top tandem against Norwich. The team defeated Dylan Ackerman and Alexi Gilmore, 8-5, to open the scoring for the Rams. In singles, Ilarslan Russo met Ackerman and he downed the Cadet, 6-4, 6-2, to help the blue-and-gold earn its first conference win of the season, 8-1.
On the season, Ilarslan Russo has played exclusively as Suffolk's ace and remains unbeaten, 8-0.
Ilarslan Russo and Suffolk will wrap up the regular season Thursday, April 26 as they welcome Rhode Island College to North Reading High School for a 6 p.m. non-conference clash.