UC Santa Barbara sophomore Axel Bouillin and Cal Poly junior Jen Cornea were named the Big West Men's and Women's Tennis Athletes of the Week as they helped their teams with solid singles performances.
Bouillin Superb For Gauchos On Roadtrip
UC Santa Barbara's Axel Bouillin (San Diego, Calif./Torrey Pines HS) did everything in his power to lead his team to a successful roadtrip as the sophomore garnered Big West Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week honors.
The Gauchos posted a 1-3 record on the trip, including two tough 4-3 losses to Denver and Air Force, but Bouillin collected singles victories against all four opponents he faced.
Bouillin garnered the only UCSB point in a 6-1 loss to No. 48 Boise State as he defeated Scott Sears in a three-set thriller, 7-6, 0-6, 10-6. He also knocked off Utah State's Matt Sweet in straight sets, 7-5, 6-4, to help the Gauchos record a 6-1 victory over the Aggies on the first leg on the trip.
He ramped up his play even further in Colorado with two commanding victories from his No. 3 singles position. Bouillin routed Denver's Henry Craig, 6-2, 6-0, and battled Air Force's Alex Grubbs in a 6-4, 6-3 triumph.
The wins improved Bouillin to 9-6 in singles dual matches this season.
In doubles matches, Bouillin partnered with Benjamin Recknagel at the No. 2 spot to earn a victory against the Boise State duo of Garrett Patton and Scott Sears, 8-6, although the Gauchos were unable to clinch the doubles point due to losses at the No. 1 and No. 3 positions.
Others nominated: Julian Ruffin (UC Riverside); Jonathan Brooklyn (Hawai’i)
Cornea Bright Spot For Cal Poly
Cal Poly junior Jen Cornea (Anaheim, Calif./Loara HS) won both her singles and doubles match against non-conference foe Portland to notch Big West Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week accolades.
The native of Anaheim, Calif. earned an easy 6-1, 6-1 victory against Pilot counterpart Anatasia Polyakova at the No. 2 singles draw to give the Mustangs a chance in the narrow 4-3 team loss.
Cornea and partner Ane McPike also teamed up to win their doubles match at No. 2, defeating Polyakova and Sabine Fuchs. The Mustangs claimed the doubles point to go up 1-0 on the Pilots, but were unable to muster the required number of wins in singles to win the match. Cornea improved to a team-best 10-5 record in doubles this season.
Others nominated: Anne-Sophie Willems (Long Beach State)