UC Santa Barbara’s Anselme Knocks Off Ranked Opponent, Excels In Big Week For Gauchos
UC Santa Barbara senior Alex Anselme (Santa Monica, CA) earned Big West Men’s Tennis Athlete of the Week honors as he notched a victory over a ranked opponent in singles and helped the Gauchos to two team wins over ranked opponents, including one top 25 program.
Anselme knocked off the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s No. 43 ranked player, Benedikt Stronk of San Diego State, 2-6, 7-5 (10-8) to start off the week despite the team’s 5-2 team loss to the Aztecs. He continued his success at No. 1 singles with a 6-0, 6-4 victory over Harvard’s Ashwin Kumar and UCSB pulled off the upset of the nation’s 23rd-ranked team by a 5-2 count. UCSB then picked up a solid 6-1 victory over Big West foe UC Irvine Saturday, with Anselme notching a 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 win over Brian Morton. Playing his fourth match in five days, Anselme lost a 6-1, 6-4 decision to Mike Wojnarowicz of Loyola Marymount Sunday, but the Gauchos won their third straight match in the 4-3 triumph.
Anselme also went 3-1 at No. 2 doubles with partner Anders Dalskov. The duo defeated its opponent from San Diego State, Harvard and UC Irvine while falling in the Loyola Marymount match. In singles, Anselme has won six of his last eight matches and is undefeated in Big West play.
Long Beach State’s Bengson Extends Consecutive Win Streak In Singles
Long Beach State freshman Stephanie Bengson (Albion Park, NSW, Australia) collected her second straight Big West Women’s Tennis Athlete of the Week honor, increasing her winning streak to eight singles matches in a row at the No. 2 spot. The successful week included a win over a ranked opponent.
Bengson and the 49ers went on a trip to the Midwest to face No. 61 Purdue, No. 28 Notre Dame and Illinois-Chicago. Bengson started off the trip Friday with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Stephanie Wooten of Purdue. She kept the momentum going the next day as the Fighting Irish’s Brook Buck, ranked No. 100 nationally, fell 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to the Aussie. After two consecutive 5-2 team losses, the 49ers stayed consistent in winning by the same score Sunday against Illinois-Chicago. Bengson played her part in the victory with a 6-1, 6-1 triumph over Molly Smith.
In doubles play, Bengson teamed with Krystina Katayama to post a 1-2 record. The pair picked up an 8-4 win at No. 3 doubles over Illinois-Chicago’s Grace Gill-Morlis and Melanie Humphrey. Bengson is now 12-6 in singles this spring, including a 9-4 mark at the No. 2 slot.
Bengson is now 9-6 in singles this spring, including a 6-4 mark at the No. 2 spot. She and Katayama are 3-1 on the season at No. 3 doubles.