IRVINE, Calif. - UC Irvine sophomore Luis Lopez has been named the Big West Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week the conference office announced on Wednesday.

Lopez helped the 'Eaters notch two points against 46th-ranked Cal Poly on Sunday, April 9. He started the match by teaming up with junior Sebastian Heim at the No. 2 position to take down the Mustang duo of Timothy Tan and Karl Enander, 6-3. That evened the doubles score at 1-1, allowing UCI to clinch the point on court three.

The Chula Vista, Calif., native then accounted for the Anteaters' lone singles win as he battled to a three-set victory over Garrett Auproux at No. 3. After splitting the first two sets, Lopez was at his best in the third, taking the momentum for a 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 triumph.

"Luis was an absolute rock," UC Irvine head coach Mike Saunders said Sunday after the match. "He showed what an intelligent player he is and was clutch in the must-have moments."

This is the first career weekly award for Lopez and third for the 'Eaters this season as Heim (Jan. 25) and Luca Marquard (Feb. 8) were recognized earlier in the year. Lopez has won six of his last 10 outings, with one contest going unfinished, to improve to 9-5 in dual-match singles.

UC Irvine continues Big West play on the road today as it heads to UC Riverside for a 2 p.m. tilt.