Cal State Fullerton's Tiffany Mai defeated her counterparts from a pair of conference contending teams, and UC Santa Barbara's Benjamin Recknagel clinched the winning point in an important non-conference tilt for the winning recipe in the two receiving Big West Women's and Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week accolades.

Mai Topples Foes From Cal Poly and UC Santa Barbara
Tiffany Mai (Westminster, Calif./Ocean View HS) won a pair of matches against No. 1 singles opponents from two of the conference’s top teams, earning the Cal State Fullerton sophomore Big West Women’s Tennis Athlete of the Week accolades.

The Titans may have lost both matches to No. 46-ranked Cal Poly (6-1) and UC Santa Barbara (5-2), but Mai played a role in capturing her team’s points.

Mai won a grueling 7-5, 7-6 matchup against Cal Poly’s Florence Lehane, then captured a comeback 2-6, 6-4, 10-7 victory against UC Santa Barbara’s Natalia Lozano.  She also teamed with Monica Rodriguez to defeat Gaucho counterparts Jordan Dockendorf and Lozano by an 8-4 score at No. 1 doubles.

Others nominated: Margarita Spicin (Cal Poly); Anais Dallara (Long Beach State); Courtney Byron (UC Irvine)

Recknagel Collects Winning Point In Gaucho Triumph Against San Diego State
UC Santa Barbara's Benjamin Recknagel (Munich, Germany/Carl Orff Gymnasium) led his team to victory in capturing the clinching point against San Diego State for his consecutive Big West Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week honor.

The match came down to No. 1 singles where Recknagel outlasted the Aztecs' Javier Pulgar 6-3, 7-5.  The Gauchos secured consecutive wins for the first time this season thanks to Recknagel's heroics.

Recknagel is now 4-8 in singles dual matches on the season.

Others nominated: Sam Gould (UC Irvine)