DENVER -- Tulsa's Dane McGregor and UTEP's Ana Brnas have named the Western Athletic Conference men's and women's tennis Players of the Week for matches played during Feb. 19-25.
McGregor, a junior from Port Elizabeth, South Africa, led the 37th-ranked Hurricane to a 1-1 record last week, while remaining perfect (9-0) in spring dual matches. Holding the 64th spot nationally, McGregor guided Tulsa past No. 36 North Carolina in Chapel Hill. At the No. 2 singles spot, McGregor rallied to win the second and third sets before teaming with classmate Shri Sudhakara to defeat the Tar Heels' top duo.
In a 4-3 loss to 14th-ranked Virginia Commonwealth, McGregor upset the nations 56th-ranked singles player, Frank Moser, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, for his ninth straight victory. In doubles action, McGregor and Sudhakara suffered their first loss of the spring to Moser and Florian Marquardt, who are ranked fifth. Prior to the loss, Tulsa's tandem put together six straight doubles wins at the top spot. The pair is 8-4 overall and 6-1 in dual matches.
Other athletes nominated included Alex Menichini, Fresno State and Toni Gordon, TCU.
Brnas, a senior from Zagreb, Croatia, continued her impressive play with a pair of singles victories and win in doubles. Ranked 81st, Brnas began the week by knocking off 66th-ranked Erin Hoe, of No. 17 Washington, 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (10-8). The upset marked the first time in Brnas' collegiate career that she defeated a nationally ranked player. As UTEP upset No. 58 UC-Irvine 5-2, Brnas downed her opponent in straight sets to bring her season record to 17-3, the best start in singles play in school history. The previous season-best mark for a Miner was a 14-6 start in 1998.
Other athletes nominated included: Polina Kravets, Hawaii; Simone Jardin, Fresno State; Siayareh Rambally, SMU.