Valero Named SEC Co-Player of the Week

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Senior Luis Valero has been named SEC co-Player of the Week for matches played between Feb. 5-11, the conference announced Wednesday.

Valero was instrumental in the Vols' 4-1 upset over No. 20 Duke last Friday. He began the day by picking up a crucial doubles win with partner Preston Touliatos on Court 1. After dropping the first set of his singles match, 6-4, to Duke's Sean Scully, the Cali, Colombia native answered with two dominant sets (6-2, 6-1) to clinch the victory for Tennessee.

"He had a good win," head coach Chris Woodruff said. "He's a senior, he's worked hard. He seems to be firing on all cylinders. We certainly needed him to start year off in the dual matches, and we'll need him down the stretch. It's good for him."

This marks the first Player of the Week recognition for Valero, who was a member of the All-SEC team in 2016. It was also the program's first win over a top-25 opponent during his career in the orange and white. He shares this week's honors with Georgia's Wayne Montgomery.

Valero becomes the first Volunteer to be named conference Player of the Week since Mikelis Libietis in Feb. 2014.

Valero's win on Friday comes as a bounceback performance after he lost matches on Jan. 27 and Jan. 28 at the ITA Kick-off Weekend in Austin, Texas. The senior improved to 2-2 on the season with the victory.

The Vols (8-2) are back in action on Saturday, Feb. 24, when they take on South Carolina-Upstate at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. at Goodfriend Tennis Center.

University of Tennessee Athletics

Players Mentioned

Preston Touliatos

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