Celia Ruiz Named American Athletic Conference Player of the Week

Greenville, N.C. – East Carolina sophomore Celia Ruiz has been named the American Athletic Conference Player of the Week, according to a league announcement Tuesday. The award marks the first time a member of ECU's team has won AAC Player of the Week this season and the third of the Ponteverdra, Spain, native's career.

Ruiz posted a 2-1 singles record over the week at the top of East Carolina's lineup while helping the Pirates to the same record in a trio of dual matches.

The highlight of Ruiz's week came when she defeated her first Top-25 singles opponent of the season and second of her Pirate career. With a win over No. 24-ranked Jessie Aney, 6-2, 7-5, in the Purple and Gold's 5-2 loss to No. 3 North Carolina last Saturday, Ruiz claimed the first straight set win of her career over a nationally-ranked opponent.

Ruiz went 2-0 in doubles with partner Lisa Hofbauer over the three-match stretch. The duo defeated South Carolina State's Intissar Rassif and Andjela Vasic, 6-3, last Thursday before blanking College of Charleston's Lisa Fieldsend and Rachel McNeely, 6-0, on Friday.

She is 7-4 overall in singles this season and is 6-2 in doubles with Hofbauer. The Pirates (5-6) return to action Friday, March 24 at Liberty. First serve is slated for 2 p.m. in Lynchburg, Va.

Celia Ruiz Named American Athletic Conference Player of the Week

Players Mentioned

Lisa Hofbauer

Celia Ruiz

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