Denver ? Boise State’s Clancy Shields and Fresno State’s Melanie Gloria have been named Western Athletic Conference Tennis Players of the Week, respectively, for March 9-15.
Shields, a senior from Grand Junction, Colo. (Grand Junction HS), led the No. 26 Broncos in a thrilling 4-3 victory over No. 46 BYU on Saturday. Playing at the No. 1 position, Shields made quick work of the Cougars’ Evan Urbina, 6-1, 6-2. In doubles play, Shields and partner Stanley Sarapanich took down BYU’s Cassidy Mears/Daniel Hwang, 8-3, in the No. 2 doubles spot. Later that day, the senior continued his tear to defeat Corey Smith of Montana State, 6-3, 6-0, in Boise State’s 6-1 win over the Bobcats. Along with Sarapanich, he improved his weekend record to 4-0 after an 8-1 defeat of MSU’s Corey Smith and Alberto Fuentes. This season, Shields, the No. 26th ranked player in the nation, holds a 9-4 record in the No. 1 singles position and a 10-4 overall dual singles record. This marks the second time this season he has earned the WAC weekly honor.
Gloria, a senior from Montreal, Canada (Georges-Vanier), finished 4-0 at the top position in singles play in four matches over the weekend. The senior helped the Bulldogs to four victories, including three against ranked teams. No. 14 Gloria had a 6-4, 6-2, win against No. 89 Macall Harkins of 21st ranked-TCU, in Fresno State’s 6-1 win over the Horned Frogs. Along with partner Tinesta Rowe, Gloria posted an undefeated record in doubles play. The duo highlighted their 4-0 weekend with an 8-3 win over No. 66 Danielle Steinberg and Sarah Landsman of No. 59 Arizona. Gloria completed her weekend with a 6-2, 6-4, victory of Maria Meliuk of No. 34 Sacramento State. This is the first time this season that she has earned the WAC Tennis Player of the Week award.
Other male nominees included: Hawai?i’s Dennis Lajola, Idaho’s Timothy Huynh, Nevada’s Alex Daruty and Utah State’s Alex Thatcher.
Other female nominees included: Boise State’s Lauren Megale, Hawai?i’s Anja-Vanessa Peter, Idaho’s Maria Perevoshchikova, Nevada’s Florence De Vrye and Utah State’s Monica Abella.