LORETTO, Pa.- Saint Francis men's and women's tennis took home 10 Northeast Conference (NEC) awards for the month of September, including Rookie of the Month honors for Dasha Chichkina and Beau Welker, the conference announced on Wednesday.

Welker, Alan Gonzalez, Tyler Nguyen, Mathis Tremblay, Chichkina, Kelly Dowuona, Kally Kadzinski and Diana Zuba all earned NEC Prime Performer recognition. Saint Francis had the most recognition of any team in the conference on both the men's and women's side.

Chichkina has gotten off to a hot start in her debut campaign for the Red Flash. The freshman from Richboro, Pa. is 9-1 in singles so far this year and 9-4 in doubles matches. 

Chichkina won her first nine singles matches of her career before losing at the NEC Individuals. She holds wins over players from Siena, Army, Quinnipiac, Bucknell, Lafayette and Binghamton.

Chichkina also made the finals of the NEC Individuals doubles top flight alongside partner Diana Zuba. The pair won eight matches in a row prior to their loss in the finals, notching wins against teams from Army, Quinnipiac, Lafayette, Bucknell, Wagner, FDU and Binghamton in the process.

Welker has impressed during his first couple of months in Loretto. The freshman from Sandy, Utah is 7-1 in singles and 6-2 in doubles play. 

Welker holds singles wins over players from Lafayette, Bucknell, Le Moyne and Binghamton.

In doubles, Welker has won six matches alongside three different partners. He has won matches against teams from Mount St. Mary's (Md.), FDU and LIU.

 Gonzalez is off to a good start this fall and has built upon an impressive Freshman campaign. Gonzalez is 5-2 in singles and 6-3 in doubles matches.

The Mission, Texas native made the semifinals in thesingles top flight of the inaugural NEC Individuals Tournament and picked up wins over FDU and Binghamton along the way. He also holds singles wins over players from Colgate and Lafayette.

In doubles, Gonzalez made the finals of the top doubles bracket at NEC Individuals alongside partner Kevin Kruzel, only losing to fellow Red Flash teammates Tyler Nguyen and Mathis Tremblay. Gonzalez and Kruzel defeated teams from Mercyhurst, Binghamton and Le Moyne en route to the final. The duo also holds a pair of wins over Colgate.

Tremblay has started this fall well and built off of a strong sophomore campaign.

The Montreal, Quebec native is 4-1 in singles and 10-1 in doubles.

In singles action, Tremblay holds wins over players from Colgate, Mount St. Mary's and FDU.

Tremblay and doubles partner Tyler Nguyen won the top doubles flight at NEC Individuals, beating teams from Binghamton, Stonehill, FDU and fellow Red Flash team of Alan Gonzalez and Kevin Kruzel in the final. They also hold wins are over teams from Colgate, Bucknell and Mount St. Mary's (Md.).

Nguyen is once again playing at a high level to start the 2024-25 season for the Red Flash. The reigning NEC Rookie of the Year is 4-2 in singles and 10-1 in doubles.

Nguyen made the semifinals of the singles A flight at the inaugural NEC Individuals Tournament. His four wins are over players from Lafayette, Mount St. Mary's (Md.), FDU and Binghamton.

Nguyen and doubles partner Mathis Tremblay won the top doubles flight at NEC Individuals, beating teams from Binghamton, Stonehill, FDU and fellow Red Flash team of Alan Gonzalez and Kevin Kruzel in the final. They also hold wins are over teams from Colgate, Bucknell and Mount St. Mary's (Md.).

Zuba has had a strong start to her sophomore campaign this fall. The reigning NEC Rookie of the Year has jumped out to a 9-2 singles record and 9-4 doubles record. 

Zuba won her first five matches of the year and went three-for-three her singles matches at the Quinnipiac Invitational from Sept. 4-6, beating players from Siena, Army and Quinnipiac along the way.

The Marlboro, N.J. native finished third at the inaugural NEC Individuals Tournament with wins over players from Wagner, Binghamton and FDU.

Zuba also made the finals of the NEC Individuals doubles top flight alongside partner Dasha Chichkina. 

The pair won eight matches in a row prior to their loss in the finals, notching wins against teams from Army, Quinnipiac, Lafayette, Bucknell, Wagner, FDU and Binghamton in the process.

Dowuona is off to a good start in her junior season. The Brampton, Ontario native is 8-4 in singles matches and 11-3 in doubles matches so far this year.

Dowuona holds wins over players from Siena, Bucknell, Lafayette, Le Moyne and FDU.

In doubles play, Dowuona and partner Kally Kadzinski are 11-3 together and have wins over teams from Siena, Army, Lafayette, Wagner and two FDU teams.

Kadzinski has started her 2023-24 season strong. The sophomore from Parkland, Fla. is 8-3 in singles play and 11-3 in doubles.

Kadzinski holds singles wins over Siena, Army, Quinnipiac, Lafayette, Le Moyne, Mercyhurst and FDU.

In doubles play, Kadzinski and partner Kelly Dowuona are 11-3 together and have wins over teams from Siena, Army, Lafayette, Wagner and two FDU teams.

Women's tennis is back in action on Oct. 5 in their first dual matches of the season against Buffalo and Binghamton, while the men play in the ITA Individuals on Oct. 17-20.