A pair of talented freshmen captured the Big West Tennis Athlete of the Week awards after leading their respective teams to important wins.
Heim Helps UC Irvine Win Big West Opener
UC Irvine freshman Sebastian Heim (Speyer, Germany) collected his second Big West Men’s Tennis Athlete of the Week honor as he helped the Anteaters win an important conference match against rival UC Santa Barbara.
Playing at No. 1 singles, Heim outlasted his Gaucho counterpart Morgan Mays, winning in straight sets, 6-4, 7-5. It was Heim’s first match at the No. 1 spot on the singles ladder, and he came through in the Big West season opener for both teams.
Despite trailing 4-1 in the opening set, he clawed back to win it, 6-4, and went on to pick up one of the four points UCI needed to win the match after dropping the doubles point. Heim is 5-1 on the year in dual matches.
Others nominated: Ben Donovan (Cal Poly); Teague Hamilton (UC Santa Barbara)
Adler Dispatches Nation's No. 32-Ranked Player In Straight Sets
UC Santa Barbara freshman Lou Adler (Vaucresson, France) knocked off the nation’s No. 32-ranked player to claim Big West Women’s Tennis Athlete of the Week accolades.
Adler recovered nicely from a first set loss and powered through to a, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 triumph over Danielle Flores from Saint Mary’s. Adler’s win put the Gauchos up 3-2 in the match, and the team went on to upset the No. 44-ranked Gaels by a 4-3 score.
With partner Jaimee Gilbertson at No. 2 doubles, Adler earned a 6-4 victory against Flores and Mary-Anne Jessup. Adler and Gilbertson were the only Gaucho duo to win in doubles on the day.
Others nominated: Hannah Stone (Cal Poly); Karolina Rozenberg (Long Beach State); Kat Facey (UC Irvine); Viktoria Malova (Hawai‘i)