Tag: San Jose State

Sakkari takes down #1 seed, highlights Day 5 of Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @Tennis

By Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Déjà vu doesn’t happen often, but for Maria Sakkari she tends to make a habit of it when she performs in San Jose.  Down one set and one game away from being bounced in straight sets, the Greek freak made a remarkable comeback to defeat the number one seeded Elina Sviotlina 1-6 7-6 6-3 in quarterfinal action on Day 5 at the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic on Thursday afternoon.

Last year at this same tournament Sakkari was in similar situation against Danielle Collins and fought her way back to win in the semi-finals. This time around she was down three games twice in the second (4-1 and 5-2) when she won four games in a row forcing Sviotlina to win the 12th game and the ensuing tiebreaker that Sakkari won 7-3 to prolong the match into the third set.

Sakkari cruised in the third winning it in 46 minutes to punch her ticket to the semi-finals where she will face Saisai Zheng.

“Maybe it’s something about this place,” said the 23-year-old Athens native about her comebacks in this tournament. “I really feel comfortable playing on the center court here. Really feels like home.”

Sakkari finished with seven aces on the day and 7/10 on first serve points won. She credits her serve as one of her main improvements from a year ago.

“My served has improved a lot,” said Sakkari. “I know today wasn’t one of my best hitting the ball, but my serve, my forehand is my weapon now when I was struggling (with them) I would say two years ago.”

In the first match of the day, number two seed Aryna Sabalenka rebounded from losing her first set of the match against number six seed Carla Suarez-Navarro to power her way into the semi-finals in a three-set victory 3-6 6-2 6-4. Despite serving up nine double faults, Sabalenka took control of the match in the second set and never looked back as she found her game to take down Suarez-Navarro.

The Croatian sensation that is Donna Vekic continued her winning ways in a straight sets victory over American Kristie Ahn in her quarterfinal matchup 7-5 6-0 that needed less than 90 minutes to complete. Vekic was down early in the first set 3-5 to Ahn who looked to be in control of the match. However, the native of Osijek, wouldn’t lose another game, going on a 10-game win streak to close out the match and into the semi-finals where she will take on Sabalenka.

“It’s easy to get carried away,” said Vekic when asked about being in a zone during the win streak. “I had to stay really focused and not take anything for granted. And really take one point at a time and not really think about the score.

Vekic finished with six aces, all in the second set, as her powerful serve was too much for Ahn to handle for most of the match. Vekic was also a perfect 9/9 in first service points won in the second set.

“I think I had quite a few aces today. It (my serve) was working really well for me. I had quite a lot of easy points as well and that’s always nice.”

In the night cap Zheng outlasted fourth seeded Amanda Anisimova in a three-set battle of the wills. Zheng won the opening set 7-5 when she would land some nice drop shots that Anisimova had little to no answers for.

Anisimova answered the call in the second set using a combination of forehand power shots with pin-point two-handed backhand shots to take the set 7-5 to even the match. However, she would pay a price for her effort as she had been suffering from an illness throughout the week. She was treated from her chair and then on the ground for 15 minutes before getting back up to start the final set.

“I have had a virus for the past couple of days and wasn’t feeling well today ,” said the 17-year old Anisimova. “I thought I needed a little help (to feel better)”. We both played very well. I think my opponent played super well. She got to almost every single ball, all the credit to her.”

With the score all evened at 4-4, Zheng was able to take control of the final two games as she took advantage of Anisimova’s ailment and won the set 6-4 and stamped her way to her first premiere level semi-final in her career. She will take on Sakkari in the first semi-final on Saturday.

“The whole match was very intense,” said Zheng. “I felt like I had to give a little bit more (than normal) until the end. It was really a tough match tonight.”

These changes were made for the San Jose State football team

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: sjsuspartans.com

By: Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Summer has ended and the San Jose State Spartans football team opened their fall camp on Wednesday.

As you should already know, San Jose State has been a lowly team–especially in head coach Brent Brennan’s first and second seasons, respectively. So if SJSU wants to be a better team, then they’re going to have to show grit and fight in their upcoming games; but we all know that’s easier said than done.

Still, it doesn’t hurt to check out what the Spartans are up to.

San Jose State will undergo changes in its cornerback position. On defense, there will be two new starting cornerbacks–Tre White and Nehemiah Shelton–following the departure of seniors Dakari Monroe, now a rookie defensive back with the Kansas City Chiefs, and John Toussaint.

White and Shelton have the first chance to replace Monroe and Toussaint based on their performances in spring practice and the beginning of fall camp. White, from De La Salle High (Concord, Calif.), was a starter in San Jose State’s nickel defense against Washington State. In that same game, Shelton, a Long Beach College transfer, came up with one of the team’s three interceptions that night in Pullman, Wash.

Here’s what White and Shelton had to say when asked about being a good cornerback.

“To be a good defensive back is having a short-term memory. If something happens, it’s being able to turn around and focus and be ready for the next play,” said White, who saw action both as a cornerback and a fifth defensive back in certain pass defenses.

“Film. It takes a lot of hard work. It takes a lot of extra work,” Shelton said about becoming a good corner in the team’s defensive scheme.

Both cornerbacks sense the heightened focus so far during fall camp. Perhaps some of the focus is being more in tuned with what is going on instead of figuring out what to do.

“The intensity is way higher than last year. I like how we are bringing it. The effort, our “blue line,” everything is coming together. The energy is up,” said Shelton, who played in three games last season.

“As a team, we’re really showing our ‘blue line’ culture. The 100-100 is really showing up. It’s something we practice and preach. It’s being able to execute 100 percent effort, every single play 100 percent of the time. As a team, it gives us the juice and energy we need for practice.”

Defensive coordinator Derrick Odum reportedly likes the way the first few days have gone for White and Shelton specifically and for the defense in general.

“I do know we are farther along at the start of camp than we’ve ever been. I really enjoy that part of it–the guys understanding what we’re talking about before we get to the assignment at hand. It’s showing. The guys are flying around. They’re in great shape,” said Odum, who has returning starters on defense in lineman Cade Hall, linebackers Ethan Aguayo and Jesse Osuna, and safeties Tre Webb and Jay Lenard. White’s among seven other returning players to start in a game last season.

“I’m pleased with the first few days. Obviously we have a ways to go, but I like where we are.”

“We’re installing as we’re as we’re going. We don’t want to take a step back as far as our progression with techniques and assignments. We’re throwing a lot at them and they are handling it. So, everything will be right the next four days and we can move on from there,” Odum said about what he hopes to see in the remaining practices for the first week.

When it comes to Spartan football specialists, depth and target consistent appear to be there. Why’s that? San Jose State special teams coordinator Fred Guidici was a hit at one of the early football team meetings. The SJSU assistant, now in his sixth year on the staff and 36th year in coaching, got the room buzzing with his annual standing vertical jump with both feet on the floor to a safe landing position on a standard height desk top.

Guidici will be looking for similar leaps and bounds from his special teams units in 2019. He’s coached two of the five top kick scorers in school history in Austin Lopez and Bryce Crawford and punters Michael Carrizosa and Harrison Waid, one and two on the San Jose State list for career punting average. Oh wait, there’s more–devising schemes for blocking kicks and setting up punt and kickoff returns.

This year, Guidici has his biggest group of punters, kickers and long snappers. It’s a six-pack with only redshirt freshman placekicker Matt Mercurio returning from the 2018 team. For spring practice, Alex Galland transferred in from Yale and kicker Chris Wood and long snapper Will Butler, two community college transfers, made it a foursome. Long snapper Andrew Gonneville from Trabuco Hills High (Mission Viejo, Calif.) and kicker Collin Tamas from Amador Valley High (Pleasanton, Calif.)–both freshmen–joined the Spartans for fall camp.

“The good news is we have a lot of depth and a lot of competition. We have good kids. They’re pushing each other and I’m really proud to have these six guys in my (meeting) room with me,” said Guidici, who has spent the first three days of practice installing the team’s PAT and field goal schemes on both sides of the ball.

Giudici’s aim is for consistency and accuracy in all areas of special teams play. A high net punting average, which would include minimizing long opponent punt returns.

“We want accurate placekickers, have them battle it out under pressure (during camp) and may the best man win,” Giudici said.

Mercurio, who made all his kicks in the team’s weekend spring scrimmages, and Galland, a second-team All-Ivy League punter as a sophomore, came out of spring practice at the top of the depth chart. Wood and Tamas are in the mix for each of the kicking jobs.

“So far, so good. What people don’t understand is our game is more mental than physical. We’re not taking big hits out there or putting down big shots. It’s just 1-for-1 every time. You make the kick (and) forget about it. And, it’s on to the next one.  You miss it, same philosophy… It’s all about the next kick. 99 percent mental, 1 percent physical. You just get your mind right,” said Mercurio, who is somewhat amazed he is the “senior” member of the Spartans’ specialists after joining the team just a year ago from Palma High in Salinas, Calif.

Butler did all the long snapping in the spring. Gonneville, trained by Spartan alum Matt Wigley, the long snapper for the 2008 and 2009 teams, is challenging for the job.

“I’ve been a long snapper since I started playing football at six years old. I was a center and thankfully, one of my coaches knew the value of a long snapper on a team and knew where it could get me. So, I stuck with it all the way through Pop Warner into high school, went to community college and still long snapped,” said Butler, who has high school playing experience as a receiver and a linebacker.

“I’ve been long snapping since my freshman year (in high school). I played outside linebacker and got first-team all-league with that. I just did that on the side. I really wanted to pursue it (long snapping) at the collegiate level, because I love doing it,” said Gonneville, who trained with Wigley every Saturday for three years.

“I learned everything from him. When I first started snapping, I could barely get it back 15 yards. Over the years, I got better and better. Next thing I know, people start calling. San Jose called and that’s why I’m here.”

Whoever wins the long snapping duties, will be snapping to Galland for PATs and field goals. The grad student, who calls Bakersfield home, has experience as a holder from his junior season at Liberty High in Bakersfield, Calif. Focused on punting for the Spartans, he also is relying on his experiences kicking for Yale to give him the best perspective holding for the winner of the kick-scoring sweepstakes.

“Actually, having been a kicker for three years at Yale, it’s nice to know all the things I didn’t like that my holders have done. For example, you have to get your body out of the way of the ball as much as possible. You have sit back more than you want and keep your feet out of the way, get your head out of the way, knowing how to lean the ball.  It wasn’t that hard a transition,” said Galland, who is pursuing his master’s degree in public administration.

Guidici, Mercurio, Galland, Butler, Wood, Gonneville and Tamas will be chasing the unit’s goal of consistency throughout the weekend and the rest of fall camp in preparation for the season.

The Spartans’ first practice open to the public is Tuesday, August 6, at 9:40 am. The team’s first scrimmage is Saturday, August 10, 5:30 pm in CEFCU Stadium. There’s no admission charge.

Vekic dominates former #1 Azarenka on Day 4 of Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @JJlovesTennis

By Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Donna Vekic has been enjoying her first time in the Silicon Valley. After taking a trip to up to the Facebook headquarters earlier in the day, she finished out her day in style with an upset second round victory over former number one women’s player Victoria Azarenka in straight sets 6-4 6-3 highlighting Day 4 of the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic on Thursday evening at San Jose State University.

The fifth-seeded Vekic fought her way out of a 0-2 hole twice to win in commanding fashion with her dominant serve and powerful two-hand backhanded swing that put Azarenka on the ropes late in the match. Down 4-1 in the first set, Vekic went on a five-game win streak to take the first set.

Azarenka, ranked 38th in the world, was frustrated throughout the match thanks to seven double faults. She threw down and broke her racket at the end of the first set after an unforced error.

“I’ve never played her (before). Actually, this was our first match,” said the 23-year old from Croatia. “I knew she was a great player, great competitor. I knew I had to bring my best game if I wanted to have a chance to win.”

In the second set, Vekic finished off Azarenka by winning the last three games and finished the match with six aces and winning five of the eight break points to head into the quarterfinals.

Vekic credits her ability to move around the court quicker as her game has evolved since she turned professional seven years ago at the age of 16.

“I don’t think I moved at all when I was 16”, Vekic said with a laugh. “I have a lot more patience now. I’m not afraid to stay in the rallies. In fact I like to be in the rallies and to build up the point.”

In earlier action Amanda Amisinova defeated Madison Brengle in straight sets 6-2 6-2 in a battle of Americans. China’s Saisai Zheng took down American Danielle Collins also in staight sets 6-2 6-0 and American Kristie Ahn was a winner against Belgium’s Elise Mertens 6-3 6-3 rounding out single’s play.

En-Shuo Liang and Zheng teamed up to beat Ellen Perez and Heather Watson in three sets 7-6 6-0 10-8 in the only doubles action of the day.

3 things evident in San Jose State football’s first day of fall practice

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: sjsuspartans.com

By: Ana Kieu

Three things — excitement, energy and enthusiasm — were evident in San Jose State football’s first day of the fall practice period.

Brand-new shiny white helmets clearly stood out as the Spartans ran into CEFCU Stadium, but practice was more than just a sharp-looking helmet.

“It was great start. We have a lot of work to do. We are further along and you can see there is more scheming and guys are comfortable. Now, the next step is helping those new guys to become part of it, and those new guys to get into the mix where they can contribute and know what to do and understand it,” said San Jose State football head coach Brent Brennan.

“I think we spent two years going through a really hard time building this foundation and I think the expectations are clear. The expectations are clear, player to player, in what they expect of each other and how they expect them to work, behave and go about their business. So I think that’s the biggest thing. It was the best offseason we’ve ever had and I’m hoping that this is going to be the best fall camp. It’s off to a good start.”

Brennan mentioned one of the points of emphasis early on is winning the turnover battle. A year ago, San Jose State was the second most improved team in the FBS going from minus-26 in 2017 to plus-1 in 2018, an improvement of +27.

A similar improvement in 2019 would be an unreasonable expectation for any team, but simply going from +1 to +5 would portend well. 23 of those 39 FBS teams won nine or more games and only four didn’t get invited to a bowl game last season.

“Today was a huge emphasis on turnover battle and the defense won that handedly, so that was exciting to see. That is one of our big challenges for the season,” said Brennan.

“Before you get pads in, it’s a lot of repetition, a lot of technical work, a lot of scheme and teaching, and then once you get the pads on it becomes a little more combative and you get a little bit closer to playing real football. Tomorrow will be a lot like today.”

The Spartans’ upcoming practice schedule includes a morning session the next four days. The first open practice is on Tuesday, August 6, at 9:40 am.

The season opener is Thursday, August 29, with San Jose State hosting Northern Colorado in a 7 pm non-conference game. Tickets for all San Jose State home games are available at www.sjsuspartans.com/tickets.

NOTES: Former San Jose State offensive lineman Tom Bass, better known for 17 seasons as an assistant coach for four NFL teams between 1964 and 1985, passed away at age 83 on Saturday, July 27. He coached with Don Coryell at San Diego State and the San Diego Chargers and with San Jose State coaching legend Bill Walsh for three seasons as a Cincinnati Bengals assistant coach (1968-70). Bass was a member of the 1955 San Jose State team.

2019 Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic features San Jose State Spartan night

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @MubadalaSVC

By: Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Wednesday wasn’t only day three of the 2019 Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic, but also San Jose State Spartan night. As a San Jose State alum, I couldn’t be more proud of my alma mater for hosting such an event for the former graduates since it has been a while since we’ve seen each other.

Wednesday’s order of play featured Japan’s Mayo Hibi and Greece’s Maria Sakkari at 11 am. It wasn’t that much of a surprise, but Sakkari defeated Hibi 4-6, 6-4 and 6-2. Sakkari is now the number seven seed. Hibi and Sakkari were followed by Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina and Russia’s Daria Kasatkina, who was a wild card. But it was Svitolina who downed Kasatkina 6-3 and 6-1. Svitolina is now the number one seed.

Somewhere in between, Belarus’ Victoria Azarenka celebrated her 30th birthday in the South Bay. Azarenka received a whopping four chocolate cakes, which were probably not finished by her, but also her son, family and friends who were in the area to watch the Belarusian tennis star.

The 2 pm match featured Czech Republic’s Marie Bouzkova and Australia’s Priscilla Hon versus Ukraine’s Lyudmyla Kichenok and Nadiia Kichekock. Yes, Lyudmyla and Nadiia are twin sisters who were born in Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine on July 20, 1992. It was a nice sight to see twin sisters take on a multicultural duo.

The 3 pm match featured USA’s CoCo Vandeweghe and Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka. Despite the practice Vandeweghe put in prior to the match versus Sabalenka, but it was Sabalenka who picked up her opening win 6-3 and 6-3 over Vandeweghe. Sabalenka is now a number two seed.

The 4 pm match featured USA’s Kirstie Ahn and Madison Brengle versus Australia’s Monique Adamczak and Storm Sanders. The monocultural duos battled it out on the court, but they displayed sportsmanship in the end, despite the final result.

Fast forward to the 7 pm match when Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro faced off against USA’s Bethanie Mattek-Sanders. During the match, play was suspended for unknown reasons, but it resumed after about five minutes. Suarez Navarro won the match 3-6, 6-1 and 6-2 over Mattek-Sanders. Suarez Navarro is now the number six seed.

The final match of the evening featured New Zealand’s Erin Routliffe and USA’s Sabrina Santamaria versus Australia’s Ellen Perez and Great Britain’s Heather Watson.

Fans in attendance, including San Jose State alumni, went home happy knowing they watched the morning and/or evening matches and enjoyed fine dining as well as the company of their loved ones.

Thursday’s order of play can be seen below.

Start 11 am
S. Zheng (CHN) vs. [8] D. Collins (USA) [Q]
K. Ahn (USA) vs. [3] E. Mertens (BEL)

Not before 3 pm
#4 A. Anisimova (USA) vs. M. Brengle (USA)

Not before 7 pm
#5 D. Vekic (CRO) vs V. Azarenka (BLR)
Doubles TBC

Court 1 start
Doubles TBC

Matt Mendes named Spartan Sports Properties GM

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: sjsuspartans.com

By: Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Matt Mendes, who has 11 years of sales and sponsorship experience in college and professional sports, recently accepted the position of general manager of Spartan Sports Properties. San Jose State University Athletics Director Marie Tuite made the announcement on Wednesday.

To date, Mendes has secured more than $40 million in premium, sponsorship and ticket sales for the teams he represented. Spartan Sports Properties is the locally based team for Learfield IMG College, the university’s athletics multimedia rightsholder.

“We are very fortunate to have a successful and experienced sales executive like Matt taking over the important position of Spartan Sports Properties general manager. He’s had success throughout his career in a variety of challenging sales environments, in several roles such as group and premium ticket sales, sponsorship sales and managing business relationships with high-end corporate clients. We are looking forward to his leadership in the areas of sponsorships and media rights for San Jose State University Athletics,” said Tuite.

Most recently, he was a senior manager of premium sales for the Staples Center, home of the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers of the NBA and the Los Angeles Kings of the NHL for the last two professional seasons. His NBA experience also includes the Sacramento Kings as a manager of premium sales and the New Orleans Hornets as a corporate business development executive.

Mendes’ professional sports experience also includes working for the Los Angeles Dodgers of the MLB as a premium sales executive (2013-15) and the San Jose Sharks of the NHL as a sales manager for corporate sponsorships (2012-13).

“I’m excited to return to the GM chair with Learfield IMG College and look forward to working alongside the entire San Jose State athletics administration representing the Spartans,” said Mendes.

The UNLV graduated majored in sports management. He began his sports sales career in 2009 as the director of corporate sales for the Joliet (Ill.) JackHammers, an independent minor league baseball franchise in the Northern League.

His first experience at the college level was as the general manager of Learfield IMG College’s Mustang Sports Properties for Cal Poly University Athletics (2016-17), a position similar to his new responsibilities at San Jose State.

“Matt is talented and professional, and we’re proud to have him serving as general manager,” said Learfield IMG College Vice President Multi-Media Rights Jeff Bolitho. “He brings a brings a wealth of experience to our local team as we continue to help grow the Spartan brand within the state and on a national level.”

Mendes is joined by John Elliott, manager of business development, as the Spartan Sports Properties team headquartered in the San Jose State University Athletics Department.

2019 Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic can be described as a Super Tuesday

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @MubadalaSVC

By: Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The 2019 Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic at San Jose State University opened up with a bang, and things steadily improved Tuesday, which could’ve been described as a Super Tuesday. Yes, a Super Tuesday!

The Round of 32 began with a morning tennis match at 10 am. Croatia’s Donna Vekic took the first match with a 6-4, 3-6 and 6-4 victory over Japan’s Misaki Doi. Vekic is now ranked number five.

The afternoon match at 12 pm featured China’s Zheng Saisai, who downed UK’s Heather Watson by a final of 6-3 and 6-1. After that, another Chinese tennis player Shuai Zhang took the court, but lost to USA’s Danielle Rose Collins 4-6, 7-5 and 6-2. Collins is now ranked number eight.

More afternoon matches followed as Japan’s Shuko Aoyama and Ena Shibahara faced off against Greece’s Maria Sakkari and Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic. As usual, Sakkari was a very fast Spartan (a member of one of the most feared military forces in the Greek world) and was technically unable to slow down unless if the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic’s social media team used video editing, which they did.

The Japan versus Greece and Australia match was followed by a match between France’s Harmony Tan and Belarus’ Victoria Azarenka, which ended in an Azarenka win 6-2 and 6-4.

The 3 pm match featured Romania’s Mihaela Buzarnescu and China’s Shuai Zhang, who took the court for a second time, against Taiwan’s En-Shuo Liang and China’s Saisai Zhang, who also took the court for a second time. The match was pretty darn awesome as all four players were talented in their own special ways.

Then, the sun slowly went down. Fans in attendance enjoyed al fresco dining as they waited to watch more tennis.

The night matches began at 7 pm. First, an all-American match between Venus Williams and Bethanie Mattek-Sands. Mattek-Sands stunned Williams 6-7(4), 6-3 and 6-1. Second, a multicultural match between USA’s Madison Brengle and Germany’s Andrea Petkovic. Brengle downed Petkovic 6-0 and 6-3 to wrap up the evening.

San Jose State football will be back soon

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @SJSUSpartanFB

By: Ana Kieu

As the title implies, San Jose State football will be back soon.

The Spartans started the week off right with a #MondayMotivation quote by former football head coach Dick Vermeil. Vermeil is a San Jose State alum who graduated with a master’s degree and served as a backup quarterback for the Spartan football team. Vermeil attended Calistoga High School.

Vermeil, a Calistoga, Calif. native, once said: “Winning is not a reward, it’s a consequence.”

The Spartans continued the week by talking to the media inside Levi’s Stadium for Bay Area Football Media Day. The San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders, Stanford Cardinal and Cal Golden Bears also attended the annual event.

Bay Area Football Media Day was chock full of fun, but the Spartans were pumped up to start their Fall Camp at CEFCU Stadium. That, my friends, will mark the return of college football in the South Bay.

Senior offensive lineman Troy Kowalski told Richardson’s broadcast partner Justin Allegri: “To know it’s less than 24 hours away, you feel like a little kid on Christmas.”

https://twitter.com/NunnLeki/status/1156259572215996417

Junior safety Tre Webb shared with San Jose State football radio analyst Kevin Richardson his feelings on the upcoming Spartan football season, which is less than a month away.

Webb told Richardson: “Being able to play and get used to the speed of the game.. getting bigger, faster, stronger this offseason…I’m really confident going into this season.”

The Spartans always released their new helmets, which were so fresh, so clean — like the Outkast song “So Fresh, So Clean” that was dropped on March 13, 2001.

Last but not least, the Spartans will host a Fan Fest on Saturday, August 3. There will be a scrimmage at 5:30 pm, and after that, a barbecue and a movie (Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse) in the world’s largest mobile kitchen at 7 pm. The cost of Fan Fest will be $25 to the general public and free to Shield 365 members.

2019 Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic opens with a bang

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: zimbio.com

By: Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The 2019 Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic opened with a bang on Monday at San Jose State University. Two lucky winners who were iPhone owners turned their AirDrop to “EVERYONE” and won a pair of tickets to tonight’s session, which was a win-win given the fact that general admission was free today and folks came on down to check out practice, Court 1 action and enjoyed the new and improved site offerings.

The Round of 32 began at 10 am at the stadium.

Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro defeated Poland’s Magda Linette 6-3 and 6-3. Japan’s Mayo Hibi defeated Hungary’s Timea Babos 6-2, 3-6 and 7(7)-6(3). USA’s Kristie Ahn defeated Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic 6-3, 4-6 and 6-4.

The women’s tennis action continued at 1 pm on Court 1.

USA’s Bethanie Mattek-Sands and China’s Shuai Peng faced off against Japan’s Eri Hozumi and Makoto Ninomiya. It was a very exciting match that delighted the fans in attendance.

After that, Greece’s Maria Sakkai defeated Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-1 and 6-4.

The first day of the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic ended with two matches at 7 pm on the stadium.

Last but not least, USA’s CoCo Vandeweghe defeated Czech Republic’s Marie Bouzkova 6-2 and 6-2 to close out the night on a high note.

Last but not least, Russia’s Daria Kasatkina defeated the reigning Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic single’s champion Mihaela Buzarnescu 6-2 and 6-2.

Tuesday’s order of play can be viewed below.

Photo credit: @MubadalaSVC

San Jose State QB Josh Love named to Wuerffel Trophy Watch List

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: mercurynews.com

By: Ana Kieu

San Jose State University quarterback Josh Love is one of 93 players from the NCAA’s FBS named to the 2019 Wuerffel Trophy Watch List.

The Wuerffel Trophy is named after 1996 Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wurffel of the University of Florida and is awarded to a college football player that “best combines exemplary community service with athletics and academic achievement.”

The 2019 Wuerffel Trophy will be presented on February 14, 2020, at the city’s 51st annual All Sports Association Awards banquet. Semifinalists will be announced on November 5 and the finalists will be named on November 18. The winner will be announced on December 10 in conjunction with the National Football Foundation’s activities that week in New York City.

Love, a senior from Mission Viejo, Calif., enters the season as San Jose State’s number one quarterback. The three-time Academic All-Mountain West award winner had his best season in 2018 completing 56.0 percent of his passes for 1,963 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Among his 2019 summer community service activities, Love and seven teammates visited the Northern California Ronald McDonald House near Stanford University and spent a mid-July afternoon with the siblings of patients receiving care at nearby Lucille Packard Hospital. In June, the entire Spartan team participated in the YWCA Silicon Valley’s annual Walk a Mile In Her Shoes event to raise awareness against domestic abuse and all forms of violence directed to women. Both activities were part of the San Jose State football team’s Beyond Football initiative.