Fresno State Athletics
Cech, Gloria Named WAC Tennis Players of the Month
11/21/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Nov. 21, 2006
FRESNO, Calif. - Senior Jakub Cech and sophomore Melanie Gloria were named the men and women's Western Athletic Conference Players of the Month, respectively, for the month of October.
Cech's thrilling third-set tiebreaker victory over Alex Slovic of Washington in the Northwest Regional singles final capped a brilliant month for the senior. Cech defeated Slovic 6-7 (4), 6-2, 7-6 (4) and saved two match points in the process. Cech won six matches in five days and was the first player from Fresno State to win the Northwest crown in 15 years. Fresno State's Fredrik Bergh won the fall title in 1995 when the 'Dogs participated in another region.
Cech, currently ranked No. 30, qualified for the National Indoor Championships because his victorious run at the regional tournament. During October, Cech also upset No. 11 Daniel Byrnes of Oklahoma State in the first round of the ITA All-American
Gloria had an outstanding October. She began with an impressive performance at the ITA All-American, where she was a finalist. Gloria won four consecutive matches before finally falling to Suzi Babos in the third-set tiebreaker. However, Gloria knocked off No. 1 Audra Cohen of Miami and No. 10 Megan Moulton-Levy of William and Mary on her way to the final. During the Northwest Regional Championships, Gloria also won four straight matches before losing in the semifinal. Overall, she went 8-2 during the two October tournaments.
