Men's Tennis 5/2/2019 11:47:00 AM

Six Highlanders Named to Big West All-Conference Tennis Teams

RIVERSIDE, Calif.—The Big West Conference announced its yearly All-Conference Tennis Teams Wednesday afternoon naming six different Highlanders to various awards. Three student-athletes from the both the UC Riverside Men's and Women's Tennis Teams received honors.

WOMEN'S TENNIS
For the first time since 2012, the UC Riverside Women's Tennis Team was recognized for its singles play as both sophomore Tia Elpusan and freshman Mahli Silpachai earned their first career solo honors, being named honorable mentions. Silpachai was incredible in her first year of NCAA action becoming just the sixth freshman in Highlander history to eclipse the 10-win mark in dual match play and her record of 12-6 led the team. She also posted the team's best record in Big West play going 4-3. Elpusan, who led the team last year in dual match play, was back at it again in 2019 with another strong year on the upper courts for the Highlanders. The sophomore posted a 7-7 record at court two and came through in clutch situations for her Highlanders.

For the second straight year in a row, the duo of former high school partners Elpusan and junior Sara Khattab were named Big West honorable mentions after posting a 9-8 record at court one, including a conference win. Since Elpusan joined the team last year, this pairing has gone unchanged and together they have a combined 22 dual match win, 18 of which have come on court one.

MEN'S TENNIS
Senior Kyle McCann, the program's all-time wins leader, headed the honors for the UC Riverside Men's Tennis Team becoming the first Highlander since 2014 to be named Second Team All-Conference for singles. The senior captain held down the No. 1 spot for UCR all season long collecting 16 singles wins in dual match play in what turned out to be a historical year for both McCann and the program.

Junior Gilbert Chung had a true breakout year in 2019 leading the team with an impeccable singles record of 28-5, which stands as the most singles wins by any Highlander in a single season, and was enough to earn him a spot as an honorable mention. He played primarily on court three, but also went a collective 4-0 on courts tow and four accepting whatever challenge Head Coach Mattias Johansson threw at him. This is Chung's first all-conference honor in singles, and second overall after being named an honorable mention for doubles alongside former partner Cooper Bridge in 2017.

Finally, the freshman/senior duo of McCann and Andreas Whelan-Merediz was named an honorable mention after holding down the second spot all year long for UCR. The team posted a 13-10 overall record in dual match play including a perfect 2-0 record on court one. This is the second straight year that McCann has earned this feat, but this year it comes with a brand new partner in the freshman Whelan-Merediz.

Players Mentioned

Tia Elpusan: Sophomore

Sara Khattab: 5' 5"; Junior

Mahli Silpachai: Freshman

Gilbert Chung: 5' 7"; Junior

Kyle McCann: 6' 1"; Senior

Andreas Whelan-Merediz: 5' 11"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Tia Elpusan
: Sophomore

Sara Khattab
: 5' 5"; Junior

Mahli Silpachai
: Freshman

Gilbert Chung
: 5' 7"; Junior

Kyle McCann
: 6' 1"; Senior

Andreas Whelan-Merediz
: 5' 11"; Freshman