DENVER – Fresno State’s Rikus de Villiers and Hawai`i’s Barbara Pinterova have been named the Verizon Western Athletic Conference Tennis Players of the Week for April 12-18. This is the second honor of the season and career for de Villiers and the first-ever honor for Pinterova.
A junior from Durban, South Africa, de Villiers went a 4-0 to help the Bulldogs remain undefeated at home this season. He first defeated Cal Poly's Alexander Sonesson, 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 at the No. 3 spot, then rallied to beat New Mexico State's Gustave Diep, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 at No. 2 singles. In doubles action, he and partner Remi Boutillier went undefeated, picking up wins at the No. 1 spot over Sonesson/Jordan Bridge of Cal Poly and Orlando Superlano/Arthur Surreaux of New Mexico State.
Pinterova, a sophomore from Bratislava, Slovakia, went 2-0 at No. 1 singles and 2-0 at No. 2 doubles as UH defeated New Mexico State and San Jose State. In singles, she defeated New Mexico State’s Sophia Marks 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 and San Jose State’s Olivia Marshall 6-1, 6-1. In doubles, Pinterova and partner Alyssa Nafarrete continued on a four-match win streak with wins over Marks/Manon Sylvain of New Mexico State and Marshall/Jennifer Williams of San Jose State. The pair has won 11 of their last 13 contests and six of seven WAC match-ups.
Other male nominees included: Boise State’s James Meredith went 3-0 at No. 1 singles and 2-1 at No. 1 doubles last week … Andreas Weber of Hawai`i went 2-0 at No. 2 singles and 0-2 at No. 1 doubles on the week … Idaho’s Artem Kuznetsov picked up wins at No. 2 singles and No. 2 doubles in a dual vs. Gonzaga.
Other female nominees included: Boise State’s Bianca Jochimsen went 2-1 at No. 3 singles and 3-0 at Nos. 2 and 3 doubles last week … Renata Kucerkova of Fresno State went 2-1 at No. 1 singles and 1-2 at No. 1 doubles on the week … Idaho’s Gabriela Niculescu went 3-0 at No. 1 singles and 2-1 at No. 1 doubles last week ... Jaclyn West of Utah State went 2-1 at No. 2 singles and 1-3 at No. 1 doubles on the week.