IRVINE, Calif. - For the third time this season, a Gaucho has earned a weekly honor for UC Santa Barbara Men's Tennis with No. 25 Gianluca Brunkow being named The Big West Player of the Week. Brunkow remained undefeated in the No. 1 singles position across the weekend as the Blue and Gold earned two home victories. 

Brunkow, with his doubles partner Dominique Rolland, earned the doubles point over Gonzaga with a 6-2 win to kick off the weekend. The senior continued to dominate in singles with a straight-set victory over Giovanni Branchetti 6-4, 6-1, securing the final point the Gauchos needed to defeat the Bulldogs 6-1. 

After an initial defeat in a tiebreak for the doubles point on Sunday against Pacific, Brunkow tied the match back up for the Gauchos with a quick 6-1, 6-2 victory over No. 99 Tiago Silva. Santa Barbara would go on to earn their fifth victory of the season with a 4-1 result. 

The Topanga, California native has played in the No. 1 position in both singles and doubles all season with three singles and four doubles victories so far. He adds the weekly honor to his three from last season as well as his 2024 All-Big West Singles and Doubles First Team Selection. 

Brunkow and the Gauchos will hit the road for the first time this season as they head to Boca Raton, Fla. facing University of South Florida at 8 a.m. PT on Saturday and Florida Atlantic at 7 a.m. PT on Sunday.