SYLVAIN NAMED WAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
New Mexico State’s Manon Sylvain has been named the Verizon Wireless Western Athletic Conference Tennis Player of the Week for March 8-14. This is her first-ever honor.
A freshman from Caracas, Venezuela, Sylvain went unbeaten against in-state rival New Mexico, helping the Aggies to just their third win ever over the Lobos and first since 2002. At No. 2 singles, she defeated Ashley Bonner in a quick two sets (6-1, 6-3) for her third consecutive singles victory, including the last two against NM State’s biggest non-conference rivals, UTEP and UNM. In doubles, Sylvain and partner Sophia Marks secured the win at No. 2 with a 9-7 decision. The pair holds a perfect 7-0 record this season.
Other nominees included: Boise State’s Bianca Jochimsen picked up wins at No. 3 singles and No. 3 doubles against Brigham Young … Renata Kucerkova of Fresno State defeated No. 81 Arianna Colffer of Pepperdine at No. 1 singles.
WAC IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
In the March 16 ITA team rankings, Boise State is the lone WAC team ranked at No. 43.
Fresno State’s Anastasia Petukhova came in at No. 10 in the March 16 ITA individual rankings, while Boise State’s Pichittra Thongdach is No. 48 and Idaho’s Gabriela Niculescu is No. 102.
In doubles, Boise State’s Lauren Megale and Thongdach are ranked No. 33.
WAC TOURNAMENT TO BE HELD IN FRESNO
The 2010 WAC Tennis Tournament will be held April 29-May 2 in Fresno, Calif. The Bulldogs, winners of eight-straight WAC Tournament titles, defeated No. 2-seed Boise State, 4-3, in a match that came down to the last point to claim last year’s title.