April 29, 2010
LAS VEGAS - San Diego State senior Juan Gomez became the fourth Aztec in the 11-year history of the Mountain West Conference to earn the league's men's tennis player of the year award. The conference announced the individual honor as well as the all-conference team on Wednesday night at the tournament banquet in Las Vegas.
San Diego State student-athletes have now won the top honor six times since the formation of the conference in 2000. Alex Waske (2000), Oliver Maiberger (2001, 2002, 2003), Markus Dickhardt (2007) and now Gomez have all earned the league award. Gomez shares the award this season with Utah's Phillip Eilers.
Gomez completed a perfect Mountain West Conference singles record, going 6-0 in league play and compiled a 16-6 dual record. He led the Aztecs in dual victories (16) and overall wins (21). He helped lead San Diego State to a 5-1 conference record and a berth into the semifinal round of the Mountain West Conference tournament for a record 11th consecutive season.
Gomez earned a spot on the all-conference singles team for a second consecutive season. He was joined on that squad, by senior Achim Vladimirschii, who improved to 9-3 in singles play following a victory in the quarterfinal round of the conference tournament Wednesday.
The doubles team of Giovanni Vaglietti and Vladimirschii, ranked 87th nationally, earned all-conference honors. The duo is currently 10-3 this season, including an impressive 9-2 record at the number one position.
San Diego State continues play in the Mountain West Conference championships in the semifinal round on Friday.