Jan. 20, 2009

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Memphis Tiger senior Jorge Vazquez picked up early season recognition from the Conference USA office on Tuesday morning. The native of La Coruna, Spain, was named the C-USA Men's Tennis Player of the Week after a successful week of tennis that saw Vazquez defeat the nation's 23rd and 26th-ranked singles players.

Vazquez, a transfer from Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas, has had a noticeable impact on the Memphis line-up. Vazquez began the spring season ranked 102nd in the nation according to the ITA. At the USF Winter Invitational, he took down No. 23 Roy Kalmanovich of Illinois, 6-4, 7-5. In the same tournament Vazquez put up a fight against South Florida's No. 27 Lucas Jovita, but ultimately fell to Jovita, 6-4, 7-5. He also picked up a win over Florida A&M's Artiom Podgainni, 6-1, 7-5. The senior then defeated No. 26 Bruno Rosa of Rice, 6-4, 7-6. He is now 3-1 in singles this spring and in just five months with the Tigers, he has defeated the nation's 23rd, 26th, 77th and 88th ranked singles players.

Marshall's Kellie Schmitt was honored as the C-USA Women's Tennis Player of the Week. Schmitt is currently rated as the 33rd-best singles player in the nation.