HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Southern Miss women’s tennis sophomore Sakura Sudo has been named the Sun Belt Conference Women’s Tennis Player of the Week, marking the first time a player from the program has received this recognition.
Sudo earned the award after securing two match-winning performances in the Golden Eagles’ 4-3 victory over Georgia Southern last weekend. Her efforts helped Southern Miss improve to 6-3 overall this spring.
The Tokyo native played a pivotal role in the win, teaming with Angelina Blinova to secure the doubles point with a 6-2 victory over Georgia Southern’s Angelina Mihajlovic and Lisen Rinman. She then clinched the match with a straight-set victory in singles, defeating Franzi Heinemann 6-3, 7-6 (7-2).
Sudo’s wins proved crucial, as she contributed both the opening and final points in a tightly contested match that came down to the last court. Her performance under pressure emphasized her importance to the team’s lineup this season.
Southern Miss head coach Piyanart Engineer praised Sudo’s contributions as the team continues to build momentum in conference play. Her recognition also marks a historic milestone for the program, following men’s player Kale Mize, who was the first in Southern Miss history to earn a Sun Belt Player of the Week award.
Both players’ achievements highlight the program’s progress and rising prominence in conference competition.
