OGDEN, Utah (March 23, 2016) - The Big Sky Conference has selected the tennis Players of the Week for matches played from March 16-22. Idaho’s Marianna Petrei picked up her second women’s Player of the Week honor this season and Sacramento State’s Christopher Clayton claimed the men’s honors.
Petrei, a freshman from Udine, Italy, went 3-0 for the Vandals at No. 1 singles during a road trip to California. She helped Idaho defeat Sonoma State after rolling past Jordyn Kearney 6-0, 6-1 and adding an 8-3 victory at No. 3 doubles with Celine Koets. In a critical Big Sky matchup at Sacramento State, she handed Alina Soltanici her first conference loss this season. Soltanici, an All-Big Sky first team selection last season, took the opening set 6-3 before Petrei answered with a 6-1 and 6-4 decision to give Idaho a 3-2 lead. In a rematch of last year’s tournament final, Sac State rallied to take the next two points and win 4-3.
Facing No. 73 ranked San Jose State, Petrei closed the week with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Sybille Gauvain, an All-Mountain West singles selection last season. Her doubles matches against Sac State and SJSU both went unfinished. Petrei improved to 14-2 overall this season and 6-0 in league play. Her only two losses this season have both come in three sets.
Clayton, a sophomore from Bristol, England, went 2-0 at No. 5 singles with a match-clinching victory against Idaho and a win against ranked Pacific. In a matchup between two of the top teams in the Big Sky, the Hornets led 3-2 when Clayton clinched the match defeating Artem Vasheshnikov. Clayton coasted in the first set 6-1 and Vasheshnikov battled back with a 7-5 decision, but Clayton once again rolled to a 6-2 victory. He also teamed with Uli Vollath at No. 3 doubles for a 7-5 decision to clinch the doubles point. Sac State topped Idaho 5-2 to improve to 4-0 in conference play this season.
One day later against No. 66 Pacific, Clayton defeated Kumara Adavelly in straight sets 6-4, 6-1. Clayton has now won four straight singles matches and six of his last seven doubles matches. He is 7-5 in singles play and 8-6 in doubles for a Hornets team that is 6-11 overall and has taken on five ranked teams. Sac State and defending regular season champion Weber State are the only remaining unbeaten teams in conference play.
Others Nominated:
Men: Felipe Fonseca - Idaho; Haseeb Khan - Idaho State; Ty Misialek - North Dakota; Jackson Lee - Northern Arizona; Connor Finerty - Northern Colorado; Nathan Boniel - Portland State; Todd Fought - Weber State
Women: Faye Worrall - Eastern Washington; Preethi Kasilingam - North Dakota; Jordan Denesik - Northern Arizona; Hilary Walters-West - Northern Colorado; Jennifer Ong - Sacramento State; Veronika Rogova - Southern Utah