LAJOLA NAMED WAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Hawai‘i’s Dennis Lajola has been named the Verizon Western Athletic Conference Tennis Player of the Week for April 11-17.
A senior from ‘Aiea, O‘ahu, Lajola went 3-0 at No. 1 singles, defeating two nationally-ranked players, and went 2-1 at No. 1 doubles. Against New Mexico State, Lajola easily defeated No. 64 Arthur Surreaux 6-1, 6-2, and against No. 52 Boise State, he dominated No. 120 Damian Hume 6-3, 6-1. He also picked up doubles wins with partner Jonathan Brooklyn against New Mexico State and Nevada and narrowly lost in a super set tie breaker to the nationally ranked duo of No. 82 Damian Hume and Scott Sears of Boise State, 8-7 (3).
Other nominees included: Andy Bettles, Boise State; Remi Boutillier, Fresno State; Wessim Derbel, Nevada; and Bryan Marchant, Utah State.
WAC IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
In the April 19 ITA team rankings, four WAC teams are ranked in the top 75. Fresno State is the highest ranked WAC team at No. 39. Boise State comes in at No. 50, while Idaho is No. 56 and New Mexico State is No. 73.
Individually, the WAC has three singles players ranked in the top 125. Arthur Surreaux of New Mexico State is the highest ranked WAC player at No. 73. Remi Boutillier of Fresno State is next at No. 94, followed by Dennis Lajola of Hawai’i at No. 111.
In doubles, the WAC has three teams ranked in the top 75. Fresno State’s pairing of Rikus de Villiers and Boutillier are the No. 16 duo, while Scott Sears and Damian Hume of Boise State are No. 36 and Jim Brouleau and Surreaux of New Mexico State are ranked No. 75.
WAC TOURNAMENT TO BE HELD IN BOISE
The 2011 WAC Men’s Tennis Tournament will be held April 29-May 1 in Boise, Idaho. Hawai’i, winners of three-straight WAC Tournament titles, defeated No. 2-seed Fresno State, 4-3 in last year’s tournament.