SAN BRUNO, Calif. – Sweeping Saint Mary's led to San Diego taking multiple West Coast Conference Women's Tennis Player of the Week awards. Maria Shmakova picked up two honors, winning Freshman of the Week and as part of the Doubles Team of the Week with partner Vilma Krebs Hyllested. The Cougars won Singles Player of the Week for the second straight week with Eva Alvarez Sande garnering the award this week.
WEST COAST CONFERENCE SINGLES PLAYER OF THE WEEK – EVA ALVAREZ SANDE, SR. – WASHINGTON STATE
Eva Alvarez Sande went 2-0 in singles last week, winning both matches at No. 1 singles in straight sets. Alvarez Sande defeated Seattle U’s Lamija Avdic 6-4, 6-2, clinching the win over the Redhawks. Later against Portland, she defeated Alaia Rubio Perez 6-0, 6-2 on Senior Day. With the two wins, Alvarez Sande ran her winning streak up to five and improved to 14-1 in dual matches this season. This is the first time she won conference singles player of the week this season.
Also nominated: Hannah Read, San Diego
WEST COAST CONFERENCE DOUBLES TEAM OF THE WEEK – VILMA KREBS HYLLESTED, FR., MARIA SHMAKOVA, FR., SAN DIEGO
The freshman pairing clinched the doubles point for No. 42 San Diego in its 7-0 sweep at Saint Mary's. The duo picked up a decisive 6-1 victory in the Toreros' lone match of the week. This is the second time this pair has won conference doubles team of the week and the third time a Torero has won the award this season.
WEST COAST CONFERENCE FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK – MARIA SHMAKOVA, FR. – SAN DIEGO
In addition to her win in doubles during No. 42 San Diego’s 7-0 road sweep at Saint Mary’s, Maria Shmakova extended San Diego’s lead to 3-0 after a commanding 6-2 first set led to a 6-3 second set to win her match. This is Shmakova's second conference freshman of the week award this season.
2026 West Coast Conference Women’s Tennis Singles Players of the Week
January 20: Živa Falkner, Pepperdine
January 27: Alaia Rubio Perez, Portland
February 3: Chantal Sauvant, Pepperdine
February 10: Kim-Michaela Zahraj, LMU
February 17: Lidia Gonzalez, LMU
February 24: Alexia Harmon, Pepperdine
March 3: Daniella Dimitrova, Sr., Santa Clara
March 10: Maxine Murphy, Washington State
March 17: Živa Falkner, Pepperdine
March 24: Chantal Sauvant, Pepperdine
March 31: Živa Falkner, Pepperdine
April 7: Yura Nakagawa, Washington State
April 14: Eva Alvarez Sande, Washington State
2026 West Coast Conference Women’s Tennis Doubles Teams of the Week
January 20: Anastasiia Grechkina and Chantal Sauvant, Pepperdine
January 27: Anni Moll and Hannah Read, San Diego
February 3: Sonja Zhiyenbayeva and Živa Falkner, Pepperdine
February 10: Eva Alvarez Sande and Yura Nakagawa, Washington State
February 17: Lamija Avdic and Natalia Michta, Seattle U
February 24: Duru Soke and Shihomi Leong, Pepperdine
March 3: Vilma Krebs Hyllested and Maria Shmakova, San Diego
March 10: Sonja Zhiyenbayeva and Živa Falkner, Pepperdine
March 17: Duru Soke and Shihomi Leong, Pepperdine
March 24: Sonja Zhiyenbayeva and Živa Falkner, Pepperdine
March 31: Lidia Gonzalez and Camilia Samel-Druz, LMU
April 7: Alaia Rubio Perez and Maria Galatescu, Portland
April 14: Vilma Krebs Hyllested and Maria Shmakova, San Diego
2026 West Coast Conference Women’s Tennis Freshmen of the Week
January 20: Sonja Zhiyenbayeva, Pepperdine
January 27: Sonja Zhiyenbayeva, Pepperdine
February 3: Sonja Zhiyenbayeva, Pepperdine
February 10: Helene Schnack, LMU
February 17: Sofia Perovani, LMU
February 24: Sonja Zhiyenbayeva, Pepperdine
March 3: Maria Shmakova, San Diego
March 10: Sonja Zhiyenbayeva, Pepperdine
March 17: Sonja Zhiyenbayeva, Pepperdine
March 24: Sonja Zhiyenbayeva, Pepperdine
March 31: Helene Schnack, LMU
April 7: Helene Schnack, LMU
April 14: Maria Shmakova, San Diego