Sun Belt announces Tennis Players of the Week (Feb. 15)

Men’s Tennis Player of the Week

Juan Cruz Soria (South Alabama, Senior)
Juan Cruz Soria helped South Alabama to a 6-1 victory over conference foe Georgia State and a 5-2 win against Auburn for the Jaguars’ first victory over a power-five opponent since defeating Nebraska 4-2 on March 1, 2008 and against an SEC opponent since topping Mississippi State 5-2 on Feb. 25, 2007.  He won both his singles matches on court No.2 and was victorious in doubles with teammate Loic Cloes on court No. 1 against the Panthers.  Also both of his wins in singles and doubles against the Panthers were the point clinchers in the Jags’ victory.

Women’s Tennis Player of the Week

Arina Taluyenko (Georgia State, Freshman)
Freshman Arina Taluyenko continued her high level of play out in Louisville, Ky. this weekend. On Friday, the Kazakhstan native prevailed over Louisville’s Mariana Humberg 6-3, 4-6, 7-5. On Saturday, Taluyenko teamed up with Tarani Kamoe to clinch the doubles point with a 7-6 victory against Miami OH’s Nelli Ponomareva and Anastasiia Vasiukhina. She went on to defeat Ponomareva in the No. 1 spot 6-4, 0-6, 6-4. Taluyenko posted a 3-1 record on the weekend and improved her singles record to a perfect 5-0 on the season.

Previous Men’s Tennis Player of the Week honorees
Feb. 8 – Juan Cruz Serio, South Alabama
Feb. 15 – Juan Cruz Serio, South Alabama

Previous Women’s Tennis Player of the Week honorees
Feb. 8 – Agustina Serio, UTA
Feb. 15 – Arina Taluyenko, Georgia State