ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – Redshirt sophomore Valeriya Zeleva of the No. 21 UCF women’s tennis team has been named the American Athletic Conference Player of the Week.
In her first collegiate season in the United States, Zeleva has performed at the highest level, getting the nod at the number one position in both singles and doubles. She is a perfect 8-0 in singles and 7-0 in doubles.
This is the second time that Zeleva has been awarded American Athletic Conference Player of the Week status. Her last nomination was earlier this month on Feb. 5, making this the second time in three weeks she has won the honor.
As for this week's nomination, Zeleva went 2-0 this weekend against two ranked opponents in singles and went 1-0 in doubles with her partner Ksenia Kuznetsova, who are currently ranked No. 16.
Zeleva is ranked at No. 34 in singles play and will likely see her ranking improve after downing Alabama’s No. 47 Andie Daniell and No. 105 Sabina Machalova of Ole Miss.
Both of Zeleva’s wins came at the top spot in the lineup. She bested No. 47 Daniell on Friday in three sets, winning 6-3, 3-6, 6-4. Zeleva then defeated No. 105 Machalova in straight sets 6-3, 6-1 to clinch the match for the Knights in Sunday’s contest.
In doubles play, Zeleva and Kuznetsova’s match went unfinished against Alabama. The story was different in Ole Miss, where the No. 16 duo in the nation topped Tea Jandric and Sabina Machalova 6-2 to lock up the doubles point on Sunday.
UP NEXT
The Black and Gold will return home to play three matches in four days. They will face Georgia State on Thursday at 5 p.m. Denver comes to town on Saturday for an 11 a.m. start time before the Knights face the ranked Florida Gators for College MatchDay on Sunday at 5 p.m.
COLLEGE MATCHDAY
With less than a week until College MatchDay, don’t miss an opportunity to see the No. 21 Knights battle the No. 24 Florida Gators. Click here to claim your free ticket for the match on Feb. 24.
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