MEREDITH NAMED PLAYER OF THE MONTH
Boise State's James Meredith has been named the Western Athletic Conference Tennis Player of the Month for September. This is the second career honor for Meredith.
A sophomore from Christ Church, New Zealand, Meredith placed fifth in singles at the Virginia "One-Plus-One" tournament with 3-1 record, including a pair of victories over opponents ranked in the Top 100. He beat No. 16 Clay Donato of North Carolina and No. 72 Simon Childs of Louisville. In doubles play, he and partner Vicente Joli placed second, with their only loss (8-6) coming in the finals to No. 17 Michael Shabaz and Jarmere Jenkins of Virginia. Meredith is ranked No. 53 in singles and No. 41 in doubles with Joli.
Other nominees included: Fresno State's Taylor Leiby went a combined 6-0 in singles and doubles at the Pepperdine Invitational ... Jim Brouleau of New Mexico State finished with a 6-1 singles mark and a 3-1 doubles record in September... Utah State's Bryan Marchant advanced to the finals in both singles and doubles at the Utah State Open.
WAC IN THE PRESEASON RANKINGS
In the 2009 preseason ITA rankings, the WAC has four singles players ranked. Leading the way at No. 43 is Hawai’i’s Dennis Lajola, followed by James Meredith of Boise State at No. 53. Nevada’s Wessim Derbel is No. 93. Rounding out the group is Andres Weber of Hawai’i at No. 119.
In doubles, Boise State’s Meredith and Vicente Joli are ranked No. 41, while Lajola and Jeremy Tweedt of Hawai’i are No. 49.
BULLDOG DOUBLES TEAM BEATS PART OF RANKED PAIR
The Fresno State doubles tandem of Remi Boutillier and Rikus de Villiers went 3-0 at the Wave Invitational, including an 8-2 win over Pepperdine's Bassam Beidas and Hugh Clarke. The pair are not ranked together, but Beidas is ranked No. 23 with Alex Llompart.
NEW MEXICO STATE'S BROULEAU HAS STRONG SEPTEMBER
New Mexico State's Jim Brouleau posted a 10-1 record in September. The junior opened the season by capturing a share of the singles and doubles titles at the Aggie Fall Invitational, going undefeated in both singles and doubles (with partner Arthur Surreaux). In his three years at NM State, Brouleau has never lost a singles match at the tournament.
At the H.E.B. Baylor Intercollegiate Invitational, Brouleau captured the title in the back draw of the first singles flight and finished the tournament 4-1 in singles play.
FRESNO STATE'S LEIBY UNDEFEATED ON SEASON
Fresno State's Taylor Leiby came out a man possessed to start the season. He went a combined 6-0 in singles and doubles matches at the Wave Invitational, defeating opponents from Arizona, Minnesota and Pepperdine.
MARCHANT ADVANCES TO FINALS AT UTAH STATE OPEN
Utah State opened fall action at home, hosting Weber State, Utah and Boise State for the Utah State Open. Junior Bryan Marchant advanced to the finals of singles play before losing to Weber State's Simon Unger in three sets (6-2, 1-6, 2-6). Marchant also teamed with junior Jakob Asplund and advanced to the finals of the doubles bracket before losing 8-3.
WAC TOURNAMENT TO BE HELD IN FRESNO
The 2010 WAC Tennis Tournament will be held April 29-May 2 in Fresno, Calif., where Hawai'i will look for its third-straight crown. Last year, the Rainbow Warriors knocked off top-seeded Boise State, 4-2.