This Week in WAC Women's Tennis - Final
This Week in WAC Women's Tennis - Final
GRAND CANYON FALLS TO NO. 4 UCLA IN NCAA TOURNAMENT
The Grand Canyon women's tennis team dropped its opening round matchup with No. 4 UCLA, falling 0-4 to the Bruins.
The fourth-ranked Bruins took the doubles point behind wins on courts No. 1 and No. 2. The duo of Natasha Puehse and Jana Weiss were able to steal a game from UCLA in top-flight action while Emilia Occhipinti and Autum Prudhomme fell on court No. 2 by a score of 2-6.
In singles action, Occhipinti was able to put together a strong start as she led 2-1 after three sets. However, UCLA came away with singles victories at No. 6, 4 and 5 to earn the final three points necessary to win the match.
GRAND CANYON CROWNED WAC TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS
The WAC Tournament Championship was claimed by Grand Canyon this past weekend. The Lopes earned the title by way of back-to-back sweeps, taking down Seattle U in the quarterfinals and NM State in the championship match. This marks the first time in program history that the Lopes have won the WAC Tournament.
BY THE NUMBERS
Following the regular season, Grand Canyon held the best team winning percentage with a record of 10-8 (.556). Individually, Tarleton's Martha Makantasi put together a singles record of 16-2 to lead the league in singles play. UT Rio Grande Valley had the top doubles team as Lea Karren and Valeria Montero hold a doubles record of 7-2.
In WAC play, Grand Canyon finished as the only undefeated team as the Lopes concluded their season with a 6-0 record against WAC opponents. Individually, six different players went unbeaten in conference singles matches. Each with a record of 6-0, Tarleton's Celia Vaudiau is joined by Grand Canyon's Joely Lomas, Natasha Puehse, Emilia Occhipinti and Jana Weiss to lead the way. Meanwhile, Grand Canyon's Emilia Occhipinti and Autum Prudhomme pace the conference in doubles play, posting a 6-0 record.
PRUDHOMME COLLECTS WIN NO. 150
In his 14th season at the helm of the Grand Canyon tennis program, Head Coach Greg Prudhomme tallied his 150th win. The benchmark win came as the Lopes swept Chicago State and place GCU on track to earn the WAC regular seaon title.
IT'S BIGGER IN TEXAS (AND UTAH)
On Jan. 14, the WAC announced the addition of five new schools in the upcoming years. Abilene Christian, Lamar, Sam Houston, Stephen F. Austin and Southern Utah were all offered and accepted membership invitations. With the addition, the WAC will have six schools in Texas, more than any other conference in the country, and three schools in Utah, also a national best. The four Texas schools will join the league on July 1, 2021 and Southern Utah will follow 365 days later, officially joining the WAC on July 1, 2022.