Jose Bendeck, men’s tennis
Though the Vandal men’s team fell short of a WAC Championship, Bendeck was key to Idaho’s championship run. In a semi-final victory against Hawaii, Bendeck’s three-set win at No. 4 singles clinched the match win for Idaho, which outlasted the Warriors 4-3.
The doubles team of Bendeck and Cristobal Ramos-Salazar fell to Hawaii’s No. 1 pair but came out on top of Fresno State’s Remi Boutillier and Francis Alcantara 8-5 in the championship match to help Idaho clinch the doubles point.
The Colombia native’s singles match went unfinished but he trailed the Bulldogs’ David Ayoun 6-2, 4-6, 4-2. Bendeck was the only Vandal represented for his singles play on the all-tournament team.
Vicky Lozano, women’s tennis
Idaho failed to reach the final match at the WAC Championship, but the Vandals’ No. 1 singles player made a large contribution to the team’s quarterfinal victory against Utah State.
The Guadalajara, Mexico, native beat the Aggies’ McKenzie Davis 7-5, 6-3, and accounted for one of Idaho’s three singles wins on the day. Lozano teamed up with Almudena Sanz at the No. 1 doubles spot and though their match went unfinished, they were leading Davis and Jaci West 6-4.
In a semi-final loss to Hawaii, Lozano needed two sets to beat Barbara Pinterova but she and Sanz fell to Pinterova and Jamie Pawid at No. 1 doubles.
Kayla Mortellaro, women’s golf
The three-time WAC Player of the Year further proved she is the conference’s most dominant golfer with her second consecutive WAC title last week in her home state of Arizona.
Mortellaro led all competitors after two rounds by three strokes but received a third-round scare from New Mexico State sophomore Demi Mak, who caught up to the Idaho senior after Mortellaro failed to make par on the 18th hole. Mak forced a playoff round and after the two parred the first three holes, Mortellaro took charge and birdied the fourth to win the playoff and the title.
For Mortellaro, the season isn’t over and she’ll compete in NCAA regional qualifiers May 10. The location is to be determined.
Kristine Leonard, track and field
At Saturday’s Duane Hartman Invitational in Spokane, Leonard impressed in the women’s shot put and discus competitions. After winning the shot put with a career-best throw of 47-9.75-meters (14.57-feet), the ninth best mark in Idaho history, Leonard finished second but had the best collegiate throw in the discus. With a heave of 161-11 (49.35-meters), Leonard now holds the No. 3 throw in the WAC this year and No. 6 in Idaho history.