DENVER – New Mexico State men's tennis senior Mauri Benitez was named the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Week in singles on Tuesday the league announced.
 
This is the first player of the week honor for Benitez and second singles player of the week honor for NM State – three if you include the fall, which is voted on monthly.
 
Benitez went 2-0 last weekend in singles at the H-E-B Tournament of Champions, including the match clinching point against UT Rio Grande Valley this past weekend.
 
The Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, product first took down Texas A&M – Corpus Christi's Okkie Kellerman in straight sets 6-3, 6-3. Benitez then clinched the match for the Aggies when he rallied back down one set to take down UTRGV's Clement Sarradin 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 in a preview of what's to come in league play.
 
New Mexico State hits the road once again as it heads to the heart of Texas for a pair of matches in Dallas against Prairie View A&M (March 2) and UT Arlington (March 3).