Posted: Mar 19, 2014
IRVINE, Calif. – Freshman Alexis Valenzuela won a pair of single matches to claim Big West Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week accolades in a vote by the league's coaches, it was announced Wednesday afternoon.
The freshman romped to a 6-3, 6-1 victory against Furman's Alex Moreno-Kaste last Tuesday in San Diego. She then outlasted Shani Blecher of San Diego, 6-5, 4-6, 10-5 to improve to 10-3 on the year at singles the following afternoon. Valenzuela also owns an 8-5 record in dual double matches.
Valenzuela extended her winning streak in singles to nine straight matches last week and currently holds a 12-match win streak. Dating back to 2001, with a win in tomorrow's match the West Covina, Calif., native will tie Caroline Freeman for the longest singles win streak.
This is the Titans first Big West Tennis Athlete of the Week in 2014, and Valenzuela's first Big West Tennis Athlete of the Week honor in her career. Also, this is the first Athlete of the Week since Tiffany Mai earned the honor on February 27, 2013.
Cal State Fullerton returns to action at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday to host Wyoming at the Titan Tennis Courts.
Others nominated: Holly Reid (Long Beach State); Melissa Kobayakawa (UC Davis); Kat Facey (UC Irvine); Jasmine Almaguer (UC Riverside); Cindy Nguyen (Hawai'i)