FRISCO, Texas – Junior Paco Bendana from the University of the Incarnate Word men's tennis team was named the Southland Conference Athlete of the Week, the league announced Tuesday.
 
"This award is well deserved," said head coach Jonas Andersson. "Paco is a great team leader on and off the court. He is one of those players that will find a way to win."
 
For the second-straight week, Bendana, a College Station, Texas, native (New Braunfels HS), won both of his matches for the Cardinals. In this case, he accounted for both points in a 5-2 loss at UTRGV on Feb. 10. He and Joey Vatanadilok started with a decisive 6-1 win in the #2 position for the Cardinals' first point of the day. Then he defeated Dennis Boisseau in three sets in #2 singles. After dropping his first match of the season in singles action, Bendana has now won five straight for a 5-1 record.
 
The Cardinals (2-4 overall, 0-0 SLC) are scheduled to play three matches in the Dallas area this week: at UT Arlington on Feb. 15 (2 p.m.), and two matches on Saturday, Feb. 17 at SMU: against the host Mustangs (10 a.m.) and versus Arkansas-Pine Bluff (1 p.m.).

To purchase tickets to any UIW Athletics home event, contact Ticket Sales Coordinator Alma Lara at 210-805-3012.
 
For the most up-to-date information on UIW Athletics visit uiwcardinals.com. Be sure to follow UIW Athletics on Twitter @UIWAthletics and like UIW Athletics on Facebook at UIW Athletics.