UC Irvine's Yovan Tucks Away Fourth Award Of Season

UC Irvine senior Aaron Yovan (Irvine, CA) won his second straight Big West Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week award - and fourth such honor this year - after helping the Anteaters move into a first place tie in the Big West with a key conference win over UC Riverside.

Yovan beat the Highlanders' Mark Contreras in No. 1 singles 6-2, 6-0 as UCI posted the 7-0 team victory last Saturday. It was his fourth consecutive win at the No. 1 slot. Yovan then teamed with Mustafa Ulukan to post an 8-4 win over UCR's No. 1 doubles duo of Joe Cartledge and Contreras.

The Anteaters are tied with Cal Poly at 2-0 in the Big West.

Cal State Northridge's Gutierrez and UC Irvine's Fermin Share Honor

Cal State Northridge senior Silvia Gutierrez (Madrid, Spain) and UC Irvine sophomore Clare Fermin (Yorba Linda, CA) were named Big West Women's Tennis Co-Athletes of the Week for their solid performances against conference and non-conference competition.

Gutierrez defeated three consecutive Big West foes at No. 1 singles to earn her share of the honor. The Matadors went 3-0 on the week, downing Cal Poly (5-2), UC Santa Barbara (5-2) and UC Riverside (7-0). She downed Cal Poly's Brittany Blalock 1-6, 6-2, 6-4 on Tuesday. On Thursday, Gutierrez posted a 6-3, 7-5 win over UCSB's Marta Simic and ended the week with a 6-3, 6-2 triumph over UCR's Erynne Oki. Gutierrez also went 3-0 at No. 1 doubles with partner Kanykey Koichumanova.

Fermin focused her success on the non-conference opponents. She clinched UCI's 4-3 win over No. 59 Saint Mary's by ousting No. 120 Femke Strijbis 6-2, 1-6, 6-4 on Wednesday. Fermin came right back on Thursday and accomplished the same feat against No. 68 Loyola Marymount. In the 4-3 win, she accounted for the final point when she defeated Tamara Tanner 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.