UC Irvine senior Sam Gould and UC Riverside sophomore Kat Saltarelli performed at high levels and were selected Big West Men's and Women's Tennis Athletes of the Week, respectively.

Gould Takes Down Two Opponents From Ranked Schools
UC Irvine Sam Gould (Hamilton, New Zealand/St. Kentigren College Prep) rebounded from a season-long slump to collect three wins in four singles matches, earning the senior Big West Men’s Tennis Athlete of the Week honors.

Against three ranked opponents in No. 23 Texas Tech, No. 26 Harvard and No. 52 Purdue, the Anteaters were unable to produce a team victory but Gould accounted for two of the four total points in those matches.  At No. 3 singles, he defeated Texas Tech’s Rafael Garcia 4-6, 6-2, 10-7.  He moved up to No. 2 singles for the Hilton San Diego Mission Valley Spring Classic and delivered a 6-1, 6-2 win against Szymon Tatarczyk of Purdue, while also beating Marquette’s Dan Mamalat 6-3, 6-2.

Others nominated: Ziad Sultan (UC Santa Barbara); Ivan Castro (Pacific)

Saltarelli Perfect In Singles and Doubles
UC Riverside sophomore Kat Saltarelli (Newtown Square, Pa./Wisconsin) went undefeated in both singles and doubles to garner her first career Big West Women’s Tennis Athlete of the Week award.

Saltarelli flourished in the No. 2 singles spot for the Highlanders with a pair of victories against Colorado State and Portland.  In the 4-3 team loss to the Rams, Saltarelli did her part in a 6-3, 6-3 triumph over Lauren Mulhern.  The Wisconsin transfer then contributed to UCR’s 5-2 win against the Pilots as she outlasted Sabine Fuchs in a three-set thriller, 6-4, 2-6, 12-10.

At No. 2 doubles, Saltarelli teamed with Natalie McKay to produce two victories which led to the all-important doubles point in both matches.  The duo won by an 8-5 score over the Colorado State tandem of Emese Kardhordo and Mulhern, and 8-4 against the Portland pairing of Alice Tucker and Valeska Hoath.

Others nominated: Malorie dela Cruz (Cal State Fullerton); Kristina Smith (UC Irvine)