UC Santa Barbara took home the top two individual men?s tennis honors today as Carlos Palencia and Marty Davis were named Big West Player and Coach of the Year, respectively.
Palencia is the third UC Santa Barbara player to garner Big West Player of the Year honors in the last four years. The junior, a native of Cordoba, Ver Mexico, posted a 16-4 record at No. 1 singles this season and helped the Gauchos win their second Big West Championship last weekend in Ojai, Calif. Palencia toppled Idaho?s Eddie Brisbois, a fellow member of the All-Big West First team, in UCSB?s semifinal victory. He also amassed a 15-6 record at No. 1 doubles with partner Marcin Kosakowski. Palencia is ranked No. 60 in the nation in the Omni Hotels Collegiate Tennis poll.
Davis, who is in his third season at the UC Santa Barbara helm, led the Gauchos to their first Big West title since 1998. He becomes the third individual from UCSB to win Big West Coach of the Year honors. He has guided the Gauchos to a 14-9 record heading into the NCAA Tournament, thanks to gaining the conference?s automatic bid as a result of winning the Big West title.
Pacific?s Dietrich Haug attained All-Big West First Team honors for the third straight season.
The following is a complete listing of the 2002 Big West All-Conference Team:
FIRST TEAM - SINGLES
Eddie Brisbois, Sr., Idaho
Jon Endrikat, So., UC Irvine
Dietrich Haug, Sr., Pacific
Junaid Hossain, Fr., Pacific
Marcin Kosakowski, Sr., UC Santa Barbara
Sean O?Connor, Jr., UC Irvine
Carlos Palencia, Jr., UC Santa Barbara
SECOND TEAM - SINGLES
Mike Placek, So., UC Santa Barbara
Carl Lumsden, Jr., UC Irvine
Andy Madersbacher, Sr., Utah State
Stacy Meronoff, So., Cal Poly
Stephen De Silva, Sr., Idaho
Niclas Otte, Fr., Pacific
HONORABLE MENTION - SINGLES
Brent Davis, So., UC Riverside
Davey Jones, Fr., Cal Poly
Maxime Lacroix, Jr., Pacific
Brad Lum-Tucker, So., Idaho
FIRST TEAM - DOUBLES
Junaid Hossain/Niclas Otte, Pacific
Carlos Palencia/Marcin Kosakowski, UC Santa Barbara
Brian Morton/Jon Endrikat, UC Irvine
Eddie Brisbois/Brock Berry, Idaho
SECOND TEAM - DOUBLES
Mike Placek/Alex Anselme, UC Santa Barbara
Sean O?Connor/Greg Bjorkman, UC Irvine
Andy Madersbacher/Clayton Thomas, Utah State
Dietrich Haug/Gernot Kerschbaumer, Pacific
HONORABLE MENTION - DOUBLES
Mike Marquez/Greg Levy, Cal Poly
Brent Davis/Walt Hearn, UC Riverside
Kevin Singleton/Dan Stevens, UC Riverside
2002 BIG WEST PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Carlos Palencia, UC Santa Barbara
2002 BIG WEST COACH OF THE YEAR
Marty Davis, UC Santa Barbara