April 14, 2009

Frisco, Texas - Newcomer Maria Martinez-Romer was named the Southland Conference's women's tennis player of the week, the league office announced Tuesday, April 14.

Martinez-Romer led the Mavericks to dominant victories against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Wednesday and UTSA on Saturday, as the Mavericks completed a flawless, 11-0 Southland Conference campaign to claim the regular season championship.

Martinez-Romer owns an 18-2 singles record this season, extended her winning streak in one-on-one matches to 16 with a win at love against the Islanders' Pernelle Soulie and a 6-2, 6-3 victory against UTSA's Caroline Dedering. The freshman Spaniard and doubles partner Nikola Matovivoa also combined to push their doubles winning streak to six matches with a pair of 8-4 wins over both the Islanders' and Roadrunners' No. 2 duos.

Martinez-Romer is the third UT Arlington women's tennis player to win player of the week honors in 2009. Teammates Monika Hadvigerova and Nikola Matovivoa won the award on Feb. 10 and March 10, respectively. This week also marks the second time UT Arlington has swept the weekly tennis awards. Gonzalo Bienzobas joins Martinez-Romer as this week's other honoree. Mindaugas Celedinas and Hadvigerova also accomplished the feat on Feb. 10.

Honorable mention for this week's women's award goes to Stephen F. Austin freshman Alina Shazkho and Southeastern Louisiana senior Iva Velkovska. A student-athlete must receive 25-percent of the votes from the league's SIDs in order to qualify for honorable mention.

Each school's SID nominates and votes for the players of the week, though is not permitted to vote for his or her own player.