UC Santa Barbara's Hejazi Earns Men’s Honor

UC Santa Barbara sophomore Bijan Hejazi (Santa Clara, CA) was named Big West Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week for February 19-25 after coming back from a set down to knock off his opponent from rival Cal Poly in No. 1 singles.

Although the Gauchos lost the match 4-3 to the Mustangs, Hejazi gave UCSB a 3-2 lead in the match with his 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 victory over the 94th-ranked Matt Baca.

UC Irvine's Bernhard Picks Up Third Award This Season

UC Irvine junior Becky Bernhard (Roseville, CA) went 2-1 at No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles, leading the No. 41 Anteaters to a 3-0 week and earning her Big West Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week honors for the third time on the year.

Bernhard downed a ranked opponent in No. 57 Katrina Zheltova of Sacramento State 7-5, 6-7, 6-2 to help UCI to a 5-2 win over 56th-ranked Sacramento State. She also posted a 6-2, 6-4 win against Cal State Fullerton's Gina Le as the Anteaters swept the Titans, 7-0. Her only setback was in a tough match with Pacific's Vana Mrazovic, with Bernhard falling 7-5, 7-5. However, Bernhard still played a role in the 5-2 team win over the Tigers, clinching the doubles point with partner Clare Fermin. The UCI duo defeated Pacific's Jolanta Twarowska and Sasha Fisher 8-6.

Bernhard and Fermin also roared to an 8-0 win over the CSF team of Le and Mai-Ly Tran for their other doubles victory that week.