GORHAM, Maine – Freshman Payton Thibodeau (Gorham, Maine) of the University of Southern Maine women's tennis team has been named the Little East Conference Rookie of the Week. This marks the second consecutive week that a Husky has earned a weekly award from the conference as sophomore Alyssa Conley (Windham, Maine) previously was named Player of the week.
 
Thibodeau was a perfect 4-0 over the course of two matches for the Huskies. Playing with fifth-year senior Hanni Johnson (Livermore, Maine/Spruce Mountain), the pair had a 7-5 win at No. 2 doubles in Thursday's match against the University of New England. She also won her No. 2 singles match 6-2, 6-7 (7-4), 10-7. Thibodeau and Johnson won again on Saturday, this time 6-1, as part of a 7-0 conference win over Western Connecticut State. Thibodeau then played in the No. 3 singles slot for the first time this season and defeated her opponent 6-2, 6-1. She has a team-leading five singles wins this season and has only lost one singles match.
 
The next match for the Huskies will be on Saturday, September 27 when they host Bridgewater State University at 1:00 pm.