SDSU'S RAFAEL GONZALEZ ALMAZAN NAMED MW MEN'S TENNIS PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Aztec sophomore collects first weekly conference honor

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

February 28, 2018 (San Diego) - San Diego State’s Rafael Gonzalez Almazan was named Mountain West Men’s Tennis Player of the Week, the league office announced on Wednesday. With his award, the Aztec sophomore garnered his first career conference weekly accolade and SDSU’s first this season.

Gonzalez Almazan posted a combined 3-0 record last weekend, recording two singles victories to go with a doubles triumph.

A native of Madrid, Spain, Gonzalez Almazan played at key role in SDSU’s narrow 4-3 upset at then-No. 28 San Diego on Feb. 23, joining forces with senior captain Santiago Cevallos to clinch the pivotal doubles point with a 6-4 decision over the Toreros’ Joel Gamerov and August Holmgren in the No. 2 position. Later in singles, he was the second player off the court after notching a 6-4, 6-3 conquest of David Norfeldt in the No. 5 slot, which gave the Scarlet and Black a 3-0 lead at the time.

Gonzalez Almazan also recorded the Aztecs’ lone point in a 6-1 loss at Pepperdine on Feb. 25 after cruising past the Waves’ Lautaro Pane by a 6-2, 6-1 count in the fifth spot as well for his team-leading fifth victory of the spring. With the result, the SDSU finance major logged the 20th singles win of his young career, improving to 12-7 this season.

With his doubles success, Gonzalez Almazan and Cevallos also remain unbeaten at 3-0 in dual-match play.

Gonzalez Alamazan and the Aztecs will be back in action on Thursday, March 1 when they play host to the California Golden Bears beginning at 1 p.m. Admission to all SDSU regular-season home matches at Aztec Tennis Center is free.