COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – New Mexico sophomore Arda Azkara, has been named the Mountain West Men’s Tennis Player of the Week, while Utah State’s Nuno Pinheiro has been tabbed the MW Men’s Tennis Freshman of the Week. On the women’s side, Wyoming swept the MW weekly honors. Junior Sophie Zehender has been selected as the Mountain West Women’s Tennis Player of the Week, while teammate Violetta Borodina garnered MW Freshman of the Week honors.
 
MEN’S TENNIS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
ARDA AZKARA, NEW MEXICO
Sophomore, Izmet, Turkey

  • Combined for a 4-0 record in singles and doubles, helping the Lobos clinch the Mountain West regular season title with an undefeated league record, 6-0. 
  • Against San Diego State, collected a 6-2 win on doubles court one with partner, Alex Maggs, and followed that win up with a singles No. 1 win over the Aztecs’ Johannes Seeman, in straight-sets, 6-2, 6-4, giving the Lobos the 3-0 lead in the match. 
  • Against UNLV, posted a 6-0 win in doubles with partner, Alex Maggs, and then logged another straight-sets win in singles, 6-1, 6-4, over Maxim Verboven, giving the Lobos a 2-1 lead. 

MEN’S TENNIS FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
NUNO PINHEIRO, UTAH STATE
Sintra, Portugal/ Fonseca Benevides

  • Posted a combined 2-0 record, helping the Aggies upset then No. 67 Boise State, 4-3.
  • Teamed with junior teammate, Stjin Paardekopper in the No. 2 doubles flight, posted a 6-4 win over Caden Moortgat/Sam Sippel.
  • Earned Utah State’s third point at No. 6 singles winning in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2, over Ryo Minakata. 

WOMEN’S TENNIS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
SOPHIE ZEHENDER, WYOMING
Junior, Stuttgart, Germany

  • Went 2-0 at the No. 1 singles slot, helping the Cowgirls clinch their first Mountain West regular season title in program history.
  • Against Air Force, battled for a three-set win over Sydney Fitch, 7-5, 1-6, 6-2.
  • Against New Mexico, fought to another three-set victory over Sarah O’Connor, 5-7, 6-2, 6-0.

WOMEN’S TENNIS FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
VIOLETTA BORODINA, WYOMING
Almetyevsk, Russia

  • Helped the Cowgirls clinch their first Mountain West regular-season title in program history, posting a 2-0 record in singles play and 1-1 in doubles.
  • Against Air Force, posted a straight-sets win over Courtney Swift, 6-1, 6-2, in flight four.
  • Against New Mexico, collected a doubles victory with Maria Oreshkina, 6-1, over Maud Vandeputte/Hsuan Huang, as well as a No. 3 singles win over Vandeputte in straight-sets, 6-2, 6-3.