DENVER - NM State's Cristofer Goncalves and Seattle U's Michelle Lui have been named the Western Athletic Conference Men's and Women's Tennis Players of the Month, respectively, for September.
Goncalves, a junior from Barquisimeto, Venezuela, posted a 7-1 singles mark and a 4-2 doubles record during the month of September. He advanced to the finals in singles at the Aggie Invitational before falling in three sets. He also placed third in doubles. The following weekend, he won a singles flight at the Arizona Invitational, defeating Arizona's Will Kneale 7-5, 3-6, 7-5. In doubles, he teamed up with freshman Luis Pliego Flores to win the doubles title 6-3 over Fresno State's pair.
Lui, a junior from Bellevue, Wash., led the Redhawks at the Whitman College Fall Invite, Seattle U's lone competition in September. She won the Blue Flight (top flight) singles draw as well as the Blue Flight (top flight) doubles draw alongside partner Kali McCollister. Lui was rarely challenged as she never allowed an opponent more than three points.
Other male nominees included: Chicago State's Gonzalo Martinez went a combined 5-1 record in singles and doubles at the Valpo Falls Invitational … Airam Castellano of UMKC won the A-Draw bracket in singles and doubles at the Emporia State Chicken Dinner Tournament … Seattle U's Trenton Nield reached the top flight semi finals of single play at the Eastern Washington Fall Classic as a rookie … Andres Hernandez of UTRGV went 2-1 in single's play at the Islander Open.
Other female nominees included: Hannah Pangestu of Chicago State posted a perfect 4-0 record in doubles for the month of September … NM State's Gabrielle Joyce finished third in the gold flight singles and won doubles at the Aggie Invitational … Tara Donaho of UTRGV went 2-1 in singles play at the Islander Open.