DENVER ? Hawai?i’s Dennis Lajola and Fresno State’s Tinesta Rowe have been named Western Athletic Conference Men’s and Women’s Tennis Players of the Week, respectively, for April 13 ? 19.
Lajola, a sophomore from Aiea, O’ahu (Isabella Colleges), led the Rainbow Warriors to a 2-2 record on the week and helped secure the third seed in the 2009 WAC Championship. Lajola began his week with a bang after he upset the No. 4-ranked player in the country, Robert Farah of No. 7 USC, 4-6, 6-4, (10-4). He also helped UH to two WAC wins over New Mexico State and No. 66 Nevada by winning his singles matches at the No. 1 position. The No. 89th-ranked Lajola took down NM State’s Jim Brouleau, 6-4, 6-1, before defeating the Wolf Pack’s Laurent Garcin, 6-3, 6-3. Overall, he finished with a 3-1 singles record with his lone loss coming to No. 74-ranked Kean Feeder of No. 19 Boise State. This marks the second time this season the sophomore has earned WAC Tennis Player of the Week honors.
Rowe, a senior from Ocho Rios, Jamaica (American Heritage), finished off the 2009 regular season with a 6-0 weekend, including a 3-0 record at the No. 4 singles position to help the Bulldogs lock up the top seed in the WAC Championship. She began the weekend by defeating UH’s Aglea Van den Bergh, 6-1, 6-1, then took down Idaho’s Alexandra Ulesan, 3-6, 6-3, (10-6). Rowe finished by taking down Boise State’s Bianca Jochimsen, 6-1, 6-2. Rowe also went 3-0 in doubles with partner Melanie Gloria, as the pair outscored their opponents 24-10 on the week. This is the first time this season the senior has garnered the WAC weekly honor.
Other male nominees included: Boise State’s Clancy Shields, Fresno State’s Tejesvi Veerepalli, Nevada’s Laurent Garcin, New Mexico State’s Eduardo Salas, Utah State’s Mike Banks.
Other female nominees included: Boise State’s Laura Baum, Hawai?i’s Alyssa Nafarrete, Nevada’s Caroline Stevens and Utah State’s Bridgette Strickland.