HAMMOND – After helping Southeastern Louisiana remain atop the Southland Conference standings, Lion freshman Renee Villarreal was named Southland Conference Women's Tennis Player of the Week, the league office announced on Tuesday.
 
Villarreal, a freshman from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, helped Southeastern (14-1, 4-0 Southland) to a 3-1 week. She is the second Lion to earn Player of the Week honors this season, joining freshman Nastya Tokareva, who took the honor on Feb. 5.
 
“Renee has been one of the key contributors to our success this spring,” Southeastern head coach Jason Hayes commented. “She's a tremendous player who always has a positive attitude.”
 
Villarreal was 4-0 in singles play, posting straight set wins over No. 56 Virginia Tech's Kelly Williford, Youngstown State's Lauren Hankle, Anastasia Surkova of McNeese State and Lamar's Alessandra Pennesi. In doubles play, she and sophomore Adriana Castillo split their four doubles matches last week. Southeastern picked up wins over Youngstown State, as well as league rivals McNeese State and Lamar.
 
Villarreal continued an impressive freshman campaign, improving to 13-0 in singles play. She has seen action on the No. 3, 4 and 5 singles courts and has not lost since the opening tournament of the fall. In doubles action, she and Castillo have paired for a team-best 10-2 mark this spring.
 
Southeastern will be back in action on Saturday, hosting Alcorn State at 11 a.m. and Jackson State at 6 p.m. in non-conference action at the Southeastern Tennis Complex.