FRESNO STATE’S KUCERKOVA NAMED WAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Fresno State’s Renata Kucerkova has been named the Verizon Western Athletic Conference Tennis Player of the Week for April 19-25. This is the first honor of the season and fourth of her career for Kucerkova.
A senior from Roznov, Czech Republic, Kucerkova picked up wins over ranked opponents in both singles and doubles last week, as the shorthanded Bulldogs almost upset No. 61 Cal Poly. At No. 1 singles, Kucerkova knocked off No. 100 Suzie Matzenauer, 7-6, 3-6, 6-2. At No. 1 doubles, she teamed with Laura Pola to defeat No. 32 Brittany Blalock/Matzenauer, 8-3.
Other nominees included: Hawai`i’s Sophie Kobuch went 1-0 at No. 1 singles and 1-0 at No. 1 doubles to help Hawai`i pick up a 6-1 win over Hawai`i Pacific … Gabriela Niculescu of Idaho went 1-0 at No. 1 singles and 1-0 at No. 1 doubles as the Vandals defeated San Jose State to earn the No. 5 seed in this week’s WAC Tournament … Nevada’s Emma Verberne went 1-0 at No. 2 singles and 1-0 at No. 2 doubles in a win over Pacific last week ... Hailey Swenson of Utah State went 1-0 at No. 1 singles and 1-0 at No. 1 doubles in a win over Idaho State.
WAC TOURNAMENT KICKS OFF FRIDAY IN FRESNO
The 2010 WAC Tennis Tournament begins this Friday, April 29, in Fresno, Calif. Boise State earned the top seed in the tournament, followed by Nevada at No. 2. Both teams have first-round byes. The third-seeded and host Bulldogs have won eight-straight WAC Tournament titles. Last year, they defeated No. 2-seed Boise State, 4-3, in a match that came down to the last point.
WAC IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
In the April 27 ITA team rankings, Boise State is ranked at No. 43, while Nevada is No. 74.
Fresno State’s Anastasia Petukhova came in at No. 14 in the April 27 ITA individual rankings, while Boise State’s Pichittra Thongdach is No. 51, Fresno State’s Renata Kucerkova is No. 87, Idaho’s Gabriela Niculescu is No. 95 and Nevada’s Maria Mizyuk is No. 99.
In doubles, Boise State’s Lauren Megale and Thongdach are ranked No. 45, while Fresno State’s Laura Pola and Kucerkova are No. 79.