DENVER - Seattle U's Matt Alderson and Missouri-Kansas City's Dimitra Stavrianakou have been named Western Athletic Conference Tennis Players of the Week, respectively, for Feb. 15-21.
Alderson, a sophomore from Bainbridge Island, Wash. (Bainbridge) went 2-1 in singles and 2-0 in doubles matches finished over the weekend, clinching the winning point vs. Idaho State on Feb. 20.
Stavrianakou, a senior from Vrilissia, Greece (American College of Greece) went 2-0 in both singles and doubles on the week, helping UMKC win a dual against Washburn before falling in a tight 4-3 match against Air Force… Against WU, she took a straight-set win at No. 1 singles and a 6-3 win at No. 1 doubles. On Sunday against Air Force, she and partner Melinda Johnson helped UMKC grab the doubles point with a 6-4 victory over Mary Meyers and Elisa Nelson at No. 1 doubles. In singles play, she played the tightest match of her career, playing to a tiebreak in all three sets at No. 1 over Mary Meyers, and won both the second and third to win the match.
Other men's nominees: Missouri-Kansas City's Airam Castellano posted a 2-0 record in singles play on the weekend, winning both in straight sets. Against former rival ORU of the Summit League, he came from a set down to take out Amar Saletovic for a three set victory, winning 6-1 and 6-0 in the final two sets. He followed with a tiebreak victory over nationally ranked Division II opponent Washburn at the No. 1 position on Saturday, defeating Aleja Valarezo Plaza. In doubles in that same dual, he and partner Mike Psarros tallied a 6-3 victory, helping the team to a 6-1 victory. NM State's Liam Goldberg clinched the doubles point for the Aggies with teammate Mauri Benitez with a 6-3 win on court No. 3. The senior then clinched the match for New Mexico State in singles play when he defeated Western New Mexico's Tristian Da Lio 6-5, 6-2 at No. 3 singles. The moved Goldberg to 11-5 overall on the year and is 6-4 in his last 10 singles matches.
Other women's nominees: Despite NM State's Lindsay Harlas dropping her first set 6-0 at No. 6 doubles, the freshman fought back to win the next two sets 6-2, 6-3 to give NM State its second point of the match. Harlas has now won three of her last four matches at No. 6 singles. Her only loss during that stretch came against Inge Hendrikx of then-No. 58 Arizona. The Las Cruces, N.M., native is tied on the team for most singles victories in dual play with teammate Mia Brandt at 3-3.