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Ogden, Utah (Jan. 31, 2012) - The Big Sky Conference has selected the tennis Players of the Week for matches played between January 24-30. Montana’s Laurence Pelchat is the women’s Player of the Week. Weber State’s Simon Unger is the men’s Player of the Week.
Weber State’s Simon Unger, a senior from Monchengladbach, Germany, won in both No.1 singles and doubles on Jan. 25 to lead the Wildcats to a 5-2 win over Idaho State for the team’s first win of the year.
Unger paired with Oliver Good to defeat Dakota Pate and Charles Norman 9-7 in the No. 1 match to cap off a doubles sweep of the Bengals. In singles play, Unger cruised to a 6-0, 6-3 win over Norman in the No.1 match.
Unger and Good, ranked 43rd in the nation, improved to 3-0 on the season, while Unger’s singles win was his first of the year, making him 1-2. As a team, the Wildcats are now 1-2 after opening with losses to BYU and Utah.
Montana’s Laurence Pelchat, a freshman from Repentigny, Quebec, went 2-1 at No. 3 singles and 1-2 at No. 1 doubles. Pelchat’s weekend was highlighted by a three and a half hour win against Idaho’s Molly Knox. Her No. 3 match, that finished sixth, solidified the 4-3 Grizzly win over Idaho.
At 5-5 in the third and final set Pelchat, who afterward was fighting off muscle cramps, received serve and made a playable return. During the routine return Pelchat lost her balance and fell flat in which case Knox made an approach for an easy put away. Pelchat determined not to give up on the point popped up and took advantage of the easy winner her opponent attempted and struck a winner of her own to take the point.
That single play turned the tide for good and Pelchat went on to win 7-6 (5) after the amazing effort.
Others Nominated:
MEN
Mario Navarro - Eastern Washington
Krzyzstof Stempien - Idaho State
Ethan Vaughn - Montana
Shaun Waters - Northern Arizona
WOMEN
Moira Hedberg - Eastern Washington
Ellie Crum - Montana State
Stephanie Catlin - Northern Colorado