Pac-12 announces tennis players of the week

SAN FRANCISCO - USC sophomore Nick Crystal and UCLA freshman Terri Fleming were named the Pac-12 Men’s and Women’s Tennis Players of the Week for play from Jan. 19-25, the Conference office announced today. 

Crystal (Waccabuc, N.Y.) pinned up two powerful singles victories to help drive the top-ranked Trojans through two sweeps of opponents at the ITA Kick-Off Weekend. He began with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Will Huyton of #73 Louisiana as USC won the dual, 4-0. Crystal then held Michael Standifer of #57 Santa Clara scoreless in a 6-0, 6-0 win in USC’s 4-0 sweep of the Broncos. He was also victorious in his doubles match versus Louisiana alongside Connor Farren. Crystal stands as USC’s winningest player to date this season, holding a 14-3 overall record in singles play. 

Fleming (Atlanta, Ga.) had sweeping victories in the first dual matches of her career, helping No. 1 UCLA to a pair of wins during ITA Kick-Off Weekend. The freshman downed Marshall’s Marija Bogicevic, 6-0, 6-0, in the Bruins’ 4-0 win to open the weekend. She then followed with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Livia Cirnu of Kansas State to help the Bruins to another 4-0 victory. Fleming also played doubles against the Wildcats, partnering with Chanelle Van Nguyen at court No. 3 for a 6-1 victory. Fleming and Van Nguyen are currently ranked No. 46 nationally in doubles play. 

The honors are the first of both Crystal’s and Fleming’s careers. USC now has 40 men’s weekly selections all-time, while UCLA picks up its 13th women’s weekly selection overall. 

The USC men travel to Athens, Ga., this weekend for the Pac-12/SEC Showdown. The Trojans will face Florida on Jan. 31 and then take on host Georgia on Feb. 1. The UCLA women host Loyola Marymount on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. PT. 

Also Nominated
Men: Karue Sell, UCLA.  
Women: Lauren Marker, ARIZ; Julyette Steur, COLO; Alyssa Tobita, ORE; Meredith Xepoleas, USC. 

2015 PAC-12 TENNIS PLAYERS OF THE WEEK