DENVER – Boise State's Scott Sears and Utah State's Hailey Swenson have been named the Verizon Western Athletic Conference Tennis Players of the Week, respectively, for Jan. 31-Feb. 6.
Sears, a sophomore from London, England (St. Bedes), went undefeated in singles play and 1-1 in doubles on the week against No. 28 Virginia Tech and No. 30 Minnesota. In the Broncos' 4-3 loss to Virginia Tech on Feb. 5, Sears pulled through with a great doubles win at No. 1 as he and partner Damian Hume defeated Will Beck and Pedro Graber, 8-7 (1). Sears did his best to put the Broncos in position to take the match with a win at No. 3 singles, as he fought back from an early deficit to beat Graber, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2. Sears earned his second singles victory on the weekend in Boise State's 5-2 loss to Minnesota on Feb 6., defeating Tobias Wernet, 4-6, 7-6, 1-0 (10-8) at No. 3 to help secure the second and final point for the Broncos in the match.
Swenson, a senior from North Salt Lake City, Utah (Woodscross HS), went undefeated in singles play at the No. 2 position during the week in matches against WAC-rival Boise State and Portland State. In Utah State's match with No. 39 Boise State, Swenson was involved in a back-and-forth thriller as she battled the Broncos' No. 2 singles player Sonia Klamczynska. Swenson claimed Utah State's lone point in exciting fashion as she won her match against Klamczynska, 7-5, 5-7, 11-9. Swenson trailed Klamczynska in the tiebreaking set 7-1, before rallying for the comeback to take the tiebreak and the match, 11-9. Swenson recorded a doubles win and also had a shutout victory over Portland State's Anya Dalkin, 6-0, 6-0, in Utah State's 6-1 victory over Portland State.
Other male nominees included: Francis Alcantara, Fresno State; Alex Joitoiu, Idaho; Alex Thatcher, Utah State
Other female nominees included: Stephanie Jasper, Boise State; Lauren Simpson, Idaho; Marianne Jodoin, Fresno State