VALDOSTA, Ga.- Valdosta State men's tennis senior Takeshi Taco and Blazer soccer junior Claire Timberlake were named this week's Steel's Jewelry Athletes of the Week. This is the first Steel's Jewelry weekly award for both Taco and Timberlake while it marks the first Blazer tennis player this season to earn honors and the third for VSU soccer.
 
Last week at the ITA South Regional Men's Tennis singles championship in Lakeland, Fla., Taco claimed an automatic qualifier into the ITA Fall National Championship. In the finals, Taco defeated fellow Blazer senior Boruch Skierkier as Taco came away with a 7-6, 7-6 victory. Taco upset top-seeded Alex Benichou Blanchard of Mississippi College in the semifinals, 6-3, 6-2 to earn a berth in the regional championship finale.
 
Last weekend, Timberlake posted a career-high nine saves in a 0-0 tie with West Alabama on Sunday.  She tallied her third career shutout and improved to 5-5-3 for her career as a netminder. In her three games played at goalkeeper this season, she has allowed just three goals and has 12 saves on the year.
 
Taco will have the chance to represent the reigning National Champion Men's tennis team when the Blazers head to The ITA National Championships in Rome, Ga. on Oct. 10-13. Meanwhile, Timberlake and the Blazer soccer team have a busy week ahead as they take on No. 15 West Florida and Spring Hill College on the road this Friday and Sunday. For more information on Blazer tennis and soccer as well as all things VSU athletics, visit vstateblazers.com.