April 10, 2012

IRVING, Texas - Ashley Watling has been named the Conference USA Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week, the league announced today.

Watling won all four matches to lead Tulsa to victories over No. 74 Oklahoma State (6-1) and UCF (7-0) last week. He topped Chris Haworth of OSU and Mitch Thams of UCF by identical 6-1, 6-2, scores from the third position.

He also teamed with junior Clifford Marsland to win both doubles matches by a combined score of 16-6. Watling and Marsland comprise the fourth-ranked doubles team in the nation, while Watling is ranked No. 89 in singles.

Watling has won eight of his last nine singles matches and his 82 career singles triumphs are eighth in school history. This is his third C-USA Tennis Athlete of the Week honor this season and ninth for his career. He also captured the honor on Jan. 31 and Feb. 7 this year.

Tulsa is the only team that has won the award more than once this season, and the Golden Hurricane has won the honor on seven occasions. Other award winners have been juniors Tristan Jackson (Feb. 14), Clifford Marsland (Feb. 21, Feb. 28) and Grant Ive (March 27).

The No. 24-ranked Golden Hurricane will travel to Waco, Texas, to face No. 32 Baylor at 6 p.m. April 11.

C-USA MEN'S TENNIS ATHLETE OF THE WEEK (April 10)
Tulsa senior Ashley Watling - Ipswich, England

C-USA WOMEN'S TENNIS ATHLETE OF THE WEEK (April 10)
Memphis senior Tiffany Welcher - Clarksville, Ind.