Hawai’i sophomore Jared Spiker and UC Davis sophomore Layla Sanders claimed Big West Men's and Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week accolades as both players beat opponents from ranked squads.

Spiker Wins Easily Against Xavier Opponent

Sophomore Jared Spiker (Honolulu, HI/Kalani HS) claimed Big West Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week honors as he was the only Hawai’i player to win at singles and doubles against No. 73 Xavier.

Spiker won his singles match at No. 3 against Xavier's Zach Mueck by a 6-2, 6-0 score.  He also partnered with David Schuster to capture an 8-3 victory against the Musketeer duo of Philip Diaz and Patrick Brandy.

Spiker improved to 4-3 on the year in singles and 2-4 in doubles.

Others nominated:  Ziad Sultan (UC Santa Barbara); Denis Stolyarov (Pacific)

Sanders Wins Clinching Match Against No. 64 San Jose State

Layla Sanders (El Cerrito, Calif./El Cerrito HS) won a pair of three-set singles matches, including one that clinched a victory over a ranked opponent, and that led the UC Davis sophomore to Big West Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week kudos.

In the Aggies' comeback win against No. 64 San Jose State, Sanders accounted for the clinching point with the score tied at 3-3.  Her 6-1, 5-7, 6-4 win against Sabastiani Leon Chao helped UC Davis surmount a 3-1 deficit in the match.

It marked the second victory this season for UC Davis over a nationally ranked team.

A day earlier, Sanders excelled in singles and doubles to aid her team's efforts in a 5-2 win over Big West foe Cal Poly.  Sanders first teamed with Nicole Koehly to win their match at No. 2 doubles, 8-2, over Jen Cornea and Ane McPike.  Sanders then dealt Cornea a setback at No. 2 singles.  After losing the first set 7-5, Sanders rebounded to win sets two and three 6-4 and 7-5.

Sanders improved to 6-6 in dual match singles this season.

Others nominated:  Louise Oxnevad (Cal Poly); Maria Pistalu (Cal State Northridge); Ebba Unden (Long Beach State); Kristina Smith (UC Irvine); Susan Te (Pacific)