Three members of the Fresno State men’s tennis team and Molly Knox of Idaho picked up honors from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association awards announced on Tuesday. In the Northwest region, Fresno State's Jay Udwadia was named Head Coach of the Year, Remi Boutillier earned Senior of the Year and sophomore Francis Alcantara was named Player to Watch. Idaho's Molly Knox earned the Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award for the Mountain region.
Knox, a senior, finished the year 15-19 and earned WAC Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week honors for the week of Feb. 20-26.
Boutillier, who is ranked 27th in singles nationally, also received Western Athletic Conference’s Men’s Player of the Year and Fresno State’s Male Bulldog of the Year. He was named WAC Men's Tennis Athlete of the Month in October and November, the WAC Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week on four occasions this season, first team All-WAC in singles and doubles and to the All-Tournament team at the WAC Championships.
Alcantara, who is ranked 43rd in singles, was named the WAC Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week twice this season, received first team All-WAC honors in singles and doubles and was named to the All-Tournament team at the WAC Championships.
Udwadia was named WAC Coach of the Year for the second-consecutive time this season. In his eighth season at the helm, he led the Bulldogs to a 20-5 mark, including a 5-0 record against WAC opponents and a highest national ranking of 14th.
The announcement came just days after the Bulldogs competed in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, where they fell to No. 27 San Diego, 4-0. Boutillier and Alcantara are still on the hunt for a post season victory. Both ‘Dogs received bids to the NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships that will be held May 22-28 in Athens, Ga. at Georgia's Dan Magill Tennis Complex.
