April 4, 2007

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - UC Santa Barbara freshman Carina Bjornstrom was named the Big West Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week, it was announced Wednesday. Bjornstrom picked up three wins at No. 2 singles last week leading the Gauchos to victories over Westmont, UC Davis, and Pacific.

The native of Espoo, Finland easily defeated the Warriors' Gillian Ayres 6-0, 6-2 Thursday to help guide UCSB to a 7-0 sweep of cross-town rival Westmont. Bjornstrom followed that effort with a 6-2, 6-2 win over UC Davis' Robin Guier Saturday as the Gauchos posted a convincing 5-2 win over the Aggies in Davis. Bjornstrom then survived her biggest test against Pacific's Svenja Arens, winning a three-set match 5-7, 6-4, 1-0 (3) to help Santa Barbara blast the Tigers 6-1 in Stockton on Sunday.

With the victory over UOP, UCSB moved into a tie for second place in the Big West standings at 4-1.

Bjornstrom also went 1-1 in No. 2 doubles action, teaming with fellow freshman Asagi Onaga to take down the Aggie duo of Guier and Desiree Stone, 8-6. The pair dropped a decision to Pacific's Svenja Arens and Carla Tamborini by the same score the next day.

This is Bjornstrom's first-career player of the week award and first for UCSB this season.

The Gauchos are back in action Thursday, April 5 in a Big West Conference match at Cal State Northridge, starting at 2:00 p.m. before returning home to face Hawaii Friday at 1:30 p.m.