ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Jan Pucalka became the fourth Lobo men’s tennis player to be named Mountain West Freshman of the Week. He earned the honor after clinching UNM’s Mountain West opening win over Air Force on Saturday after at McKinnon Family Tennis Stadium.
Pucalka joined Arda Azkara, Georgio Samaha and Aram Noroozian, who all were named MW Freshman of the Week this season. Noroozian, who also won his match last week to give UNM a 2-1 lead, was the Mountain West Freshman of the Week last week.
Pucalka won his match at No. 5 singles over Justin Waldman 6-3, 6-4 to clinch UNM’s 15th Mountain West win in the last 16 matches, dating back to 2018. Pucalka’s win made him 8-3 in the spring dual season, and 8-2 at No. 5 singles, his normal position in the lineup. The Lobos are back-to-back Mountain West Champions, and UNM’s singles lineup for the most part this season has featured five freshmen in the lineup. UNM travels to face Nevada on Friday afternoon before returning home to take on Boise State on Sunday at noon at McKinnon Family Tennis Stadium.