WACO, Texas – Mbali Langa of Xavier University (La.) was tabbed as the RRAC Women's Tennis Player of the Week for March 25-31, while Xavier's Nereo Suarez earned the RRAC Men's Tennis Player of the Week honor for the same dates. This is the ninth set of weekly winners for the 2024 RRAC tennis season.
Langa won in doubles and singles in the Gold Nuggets' 4-3 victory at NAIA No. 8 University of St. Thomas (Fla.). The senior from Johannesburg, South Africa, also led Violat Apisah, who is ranked No. 2 in the ITA NAIA singles rankings in an unfinished singles match as Xavier lost to No. 2 Keiser University (Fla.). The Gold Nuggets are ranked fifth nationally with a 12-5 mark on the season.
Suarez was unbeaten as the Gold Rush continued to play some of the top teams in the country. The sophomore from Santa Fe, Argentina, picked up a straight-set win in singles and a win in doubles against the St. Thomas as Xavier claimed a team victory. Suarez was leading Yassir Kilani of No. 3 Keiser, 3-6, 6-4, 5-4 when the match was called and he was trailing in doubles, 5-6, when that match was left unresolved. The 10th-ranked Gold Rush are now 9-9 on the season.
Additional RRAC tennis player of the week nominees: Johan Favelin (Our Lady of the Lake), Raquel Rodrigues (Louisiana Christian).