After coming back from a one set deficit to win his singles match Sunday, sophomore Kyle Rapp (Encinitas, Calif.) has been named GoSeattleU.com's Featured Student Athlete of the Week for the week of April 17.
Last Sunday, Rapp faced off against Northern Arizona's Steven Say at number six singles. He gave Say the first set 6-2 and fell behind early in the second, going down 3-1 after four games. Rapp fought back, however, and won five of the next six games to take the set 6-4. The tied match went into a super tiebreak, which Rapp won 10-8. The win, Rapp's fourth straight individual victory, was Seattle U's lone point of the match.
As the dual season wore on, Rapp earned more playing time and finished the spring with a 6-5 individual record. He also added three wins in doubles play, winning one doubles contest each with Flavio Malagutti (Rio Claro, Brazil), Tom Plunkett (Seattle, Wash.), and Simon Meske (Tacoma, Wash.).
"Kyle has really developed his all-around game," said men's tennis head coach Mark Frisby. "He's been able to find a way to compete even when not at his best. He's worked very hard throughout the season."
In the classroom, Rapp has tallied a 3.738 GPA throughout his year and a half at Seattle U. The liberal studies major has also found time to study abroad, traveling to Lima, Peru last fall as part of a study abroad program.
The men's tennis team finished their season with last Sunday's match against Northern Arizona. The squad, along with 16 other Seattle University teams, will join in the Western Athletic Conference July 1st, 2012 and will be fully eligible for the WAC and NCAA tournaments.
The Seattle University athletics department names a Featured Student-Athlete each week based on performances both in the classroom and in competition.