March 11, 2003

DALLAS, Texas - Texas Tech senior standout Alfonso Perez of Guadalajara, Mexico, and Baylor senior netter Vida Mulec of Maribor, Slovenia, are Big 12 Conference Men's and Women's Tennis Players of the Week for matches from March 4-10, the conference office announced Tuesday. Perez had one of the most momentous weeks in Tech men's tennis annals with consecutive wins over No. 1 singles players Texas-Arlington and Wichita State (he did not have to complete the match he was leading against host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi) in the HEB Corpus Christi (Texas) Tournament last week. He was 3-0 in doubles while teaming with Esat Tanik at No. 1 doubles and has led the Red Raiders to a 10-1 start-its top 11-match mark to open a campaign. Perez also climbed into the No. 97 spot in ITA Collegiate ratings this week and has won nine consecutive singles matches to raise his 2003 mark to 9-1. Mulec kept Baylor undefeated in Big 12 '03 dual match play after the Bears downed Missouri 5-2 last Saturday. She upended No. 27 nationally Urska Juric of Missouri 4-6, 7-5(10-5) to set the tone for the BU win over the Tigers, who began the week with a 3-0 Big 12 mark. Mulec also claimed the last seven points in a critical tiebreaker to score the 10-5 come-from-behind win over Juric. The Bears' senior stalwart teamed with Anna Moncolova to down Mary Barry-Hana Kraftova of MU 8-2 in No. 2 doubles.

2003 Season Winners
March 4     Men
            Ryan Newport, A&M
            Women
            (co)Urska Juric, MU
            Nicki Mechem, A&M
March 11    Men
            Alfonso Perez, TT
            Women
            Vida Mulec, BU