Wednesday, March 17, 2010

MACON, Ga. – USC Upstate’s Javier Tori finished off another perfect week, going 4-0 at No. 3 singles and 4-0 at No. 1 doubles with partner Renzo Airaldi. For his performance, Tori claimed the fourth A-Sun Player of the Week award of his career and second on the season, the conference office announced Wednesday.

Tori led USC Upstate on its California road trip with a perfect record, becoming the first player in Spartan history to reach 150 career combined wins in the process. The senior posted a three-set, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, win against No. 45 Thibaut Visy of San Diego to clinch USC Upstate's, 4-3, win, to secure the biggest upset in the school's D-I era. The Lima, Peru native also won his doubles match versus the Torreros, 9-7.

Tori won both a singles and doubles match in a 5-2 win against Loyola Marymount and then recorded a doubles win with Airaldi versus No. 48 UC Irvine at No. 1, in addition to a three-set singles win. The Lima, Peru native wrapped up week by beating the Northeast Region's No. 8 doubles pairing of Joel Samaha and Erik BlumenKranz, 8-6, with Airaldi. Tori posted another three-set win, 6-3, 6-7 (7), 6-2, at No. 3 singles to clinch USC Upstate’s win against Yale, ranked seventh in the Northeast Region.

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The Atlantic Sun Conference is an 11-member league committed to Building Winners for Life. The A-Sun stands for achievement with integrity in both the academic and athletic arenas, with a focus on the balance between the two for our student-athletes. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun boasts six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun includes a blend of the most prestigious and dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.

Other Top Performers
David Clavera, Campbell (Fr. - Barcelona, Spain - No. 5 Singles - Undeclared) – Clavera helped the Campbell to a perfect 3-0 record on the week and its ninth consecutive team victory. The Barcelona, Spain native started the week with a 7-6, 6-3 victory versus Hampton's Alvin Fludd Friday afternoon to help the Camels to victory. On Saturday, Clavera defeated Mercer’s Matthew Poleon, 6-4, 6-2, in helping Campbell to a perfect A-Sun mark. The freshman knocked off Gardner-Webb's Adam Knutsson, 6-1, 6-2, in helping the Camels to a 5-2 victory to close the week. Clavera has now won nine straight singles matches and has helped Campbell to its longest winning streak in over six years.

Daniel Isaza, ETSU (Sr. - No. 3/4 Singles/No. 3 Doubles – Medellin, Columbia - Business) – Senior captain Daniel Isaza delivered last week for ETSU. With the match on the line against No. 48 UNC Wilmington, the Medellin, Columbia native rallied back after dropping the first set tying the contest with a close 7-5 second set victory. With Blank leading at 4-3, the ETSU senior leader stayed in the match and won four out of the next five games to seal the ETSU victory. After a relatively easy win against FGCU Wednesday, Isaza again clinched the Bucs’ next victory as ETSU defeated league rival Stetson Saturday. With the Bucs leading 3-2, the business major stormed back after dropping the first set against the Hatters’ Didrik Berg and won the final two sets, 6-4, 6-2. Overall, Isaza has won his last four singles matches, in addition to winning seven out of his last 10 doubles matches with sophomore teammate Robin Akser.