Former UCSB tennis standout Nicolas Moreno de Alboran qualified for the U.S. Open on Saturday, winning a thrilling three-set match 3-6, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (12) over Belgium’s Joris De Loore.
Moreno de Alboran won three matches to make the main draw of the Grand Slam event.
“To see a Gaucho represented in the main draw of a grand slam shows how far this program has come over the last decade,” said UC Santa Barbara Men’s Tennis Head Coach Blake Muller. “Nic is an incredible ambassador for UC Santa Barbara and our program. The entire UC Santa Barbara tennis community is so proud of him.”
Currently ranked 130 in the world, Moreno de Alboran plays Lorenzo Sonego of Italy in the first round on Tuesday afternoon.
Also in the main draw is Santa Barbara native Kayla Day, who received a wild card entry. She faced No. 30 seed Sorana Cirstea of Romania on Monday.
UCSB Women’s Basketball Assistant Honored
Current UC Santa Barbara Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach Krystle Evans is being inducted into the CIF Los Angeles City Section Hall of Fame.
Evans attended Crenshaw High and led the Cougars to a City championship in 2005 and was the first girls’ basketball player in the Coliseum League to reach 1,700 points, 500 rebounds and 400 assists in her career. Evans still holds the record for the most assists in a single game, recording 15. As a freshman at Pacific Palisades, Evans still holds the single-game record for scoring with 45 points.
As a coach at View Park Prep and Animo South Los Angeles, Evans won four CIF Championships in five years with an overall record of 135-5.
“We are so proud of Krystle on her induction to the CIF Los Angeles City Section Hall of Fame,” UC Santa Barbara Women’s Basketball Head Coach Bonnie Henrickson said. “Krystle is a winner on and off the court. We are fortunate to have her coaching at UC Santa Barbara. Her knowledge of the game and her ability to teach and connect with young women have made her an invaluable asset to our program.”
Evans attended UCLA and participated in numerous rallies demanding that the admissions board revise how they review applications. As a result, UCLA now has a new reviewing process that incorporates a ‘holistic approach’ to the way applications are reviewed. Since being admitted to UCLA, Evans has been a Chancellors’ Blue and Gold Scholar, a Research Rookie, a McNair Scholar, a Vice Provost for Pre-College Scholars (VIPS) Mentor, and published four times.
New Track, Cross Country Assistant at UCSB
Jason Zarb-Cousin joins the Gauchos’ Cross Country and Track & Field coaching staffs as an assistant coach.
On the track & field staff, he will work closely with the team’s distance runners.
“We’re bringing in an established leader with Jason,” head coach Cody Fleming said. “He is passionate, high energy and believes in individual and character development. I think he’s going to be a great addition to our program.”
Zarb-Cousin comes to Santa Barbara after spending seven years at Loyola Marymount, including serving as head coach of the Lions’ Men’s Cross Country and Track & Field programs in 2021 and 2022.