LOGAN, Utah – Utah State men's tennis junior Xavier Calvelo has been named the America First Credit Union USU Student-Athlete of the Week for the period ending on Sunday, Oct. 11. The award is voted on by a state-wide media panel.

With their sponsorship of the student-athlete of the week, America First Credit Union donates funds directly to support student-athlete scholarships.
 
Calvelo, a native of Las Vegas, Nevada, became the first Aggie since 1970 to reach the NCAA Individual Championships by reaching the finals of the ITA Mountain Regional Championships last week, also becoming the first Pac-12 player in any sport to reach a national tournament in its new era.

Ranked No. 4 entering the tournament, Calvelo reeled off five-straight victories in the main draw of singles play to reach the finals, the longest run by an Aggie since Bodin Zarkovic claimed the men's title for USU in 2023. Calvelo began his run with a three-set victory in the first round over Nevada's Remy Tregoures, bouncing back after dropping the first set to win, 3-6, 6-1, 6-1. In the second round against Utah's Balthazar Huss, he again outlasted his opponent in three sets to earn a 6-3, 3–6, 6-1 victory. In his lone match against a seeded opponent, Calvelo defeated New Mexico's 15th-seeded Dario Ciobotaru, 7-6 (4), 3-6, 7-6 (4). In the quarterfinals, Calvelo defeated Denver's Theo Coats, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-4, and in the semifinals, Calvelo pulled off a straight-sets victory over Montana's Matthew Upton, 6-3, 7-5, to book his spot in the NCAA Individual Championships. The championship match was left unplayed with both players earning berths to the national tournament.

Calvelo also earned a pair of doubles wins playing alongside sophomore Jakub Medved.  The duo entered the tournament seeded third overall and recorded victories over Montana State's Elijah Calaquian and Ethan Masselis (8-2) and Air Force's Muyang Yi and Langdon Tingleaf (8-4).

This is Calvelo's first time in his career being named the AFCU USU Student-Athlete of the Week.
 
Fans can follow USU's men's tennis team on Twitter @USUMensTennis, on Facebook at /UtahStateMensTennis or on Instagram at USUMensTennis. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter, @USUAthletics, Facebook at /USUAthletics and on Instagram, @USUAthletics.
 
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Nominees from other sports for USU Student-Athlete of the Week included:
MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY – Freshman Stockton Stevens (Twin Falls, Idaho) led the men's cross country team to victory at Utah State's Steve T. Reeder Memorial Invitational, setting a personal best in the 7k with a 21:21.1 to secure his first career race win. Stevens was the fourth runner from the men's team to win a race this season, pacing the Aggie pack to the top four finishing positions at the home meet.
 
WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY – Senior Sarah Ellis (Issaquah, Wash.) won the home-hosted Steve T. Reeder Memorial Invitational by 43.8 seconds in her first race with the Aggies this season. The margin is the largest victory by an Aggie this year. Ellis cruised to victory in the 5k race, crossing the line in 18.09.5, also leading the women's squad to a team title.
 
GOLF – Sophomore Jackson Pieratt (Phoenix, Ariz.) led Utah State as he tied for fifth at 7-under 206 (70-69-71) for his lowest and best-ever 54-hole score at the Oregon State Invitational. It is his best finish of the year, and second under-par finish this fall. Overall, it is his fourth top five finish of his career and his second top 20 placing this fall with the Aggies. Pieratt began the tournament with a 1-under 70 and then carded a 2-under 69 during his second round, followed by a 4-under 67 during his final 18 holes, which is tied for his lowest round of the season. He has now shot six rounds under par this fall and has five rounds in the 60s. USU tied for fifth at 9-under 843 (279-281-283)
 
FOOTBALL – Junior inside linebacker Asher Cunningham (Ashville, N.C.) had a career-high 17 tackles, which included a career-high-tying 2.0 tackles for loss to go along with 0.5 sacks, while adding a career-best two forced fumbles and a career-high-tying one fumble recovery in Utah State's come-from-behind 17-16 Pac-12 home win against Washington State. Cunningham forced both of his fumbles in the second half, the first at the WSU 39-yard line and the second at the WSU 19-yard line, and the Aggies scored touchdown following both turnovers to rally from a 16-3 halftime deficit. For Cunningham, it is his second double-digit tackle outing of the season and the fourth of his career. Cunningham and the Aggie defense held the Cougars to just five first downs and 64 yards of total offense in the second half.
 
SOCCER – Sophomore goalkeeper Ivy Nystrom (Phoenix, Ariz.) helped Utah State to a 2-0-0 week with a 2-0 home win against Washington State on Thursday and a 1-0 win at Boise State on Sunday. Against the Cougars, Nystrom played all 90 minutes in goal and made two saves while earning the shutout. Against the Broncos, Nystrom recorded another shutout, her eighth of the season, after playing all 90 minutes in goal and making two saves. On the week, Nystrom totaled four saves with no goals allowed, starting both matches and playing all 180 minutes in goal.
 
VOLLEYBALL – Senior setter Olivia Tukuafu (Mesa, Ariz.) led Utah State with 45 assists during a 3-1 loss to Boise State. Tukuafu also recorded a double-double for the third-straight match, finishing with a career-high 16 digs. She added three blocks, including one solo, and two kills in the match.

2026-27 America First Credit Union USU Student-Athlete of the Week Winners
Aug. 31 – Ellie Hendrix, Soccer
Sept. 6 – Jedediah Megargel, Cross Country
Sept. 13 – Solena Sellers, Soccer
Sept. 20 – Mia Lopez, Soccer
Sept. 27 – Grady Brosterhous, Football
Oct. 4 – Hadli Barrera, Soccer
Oct. 11 – Xavier Calvelo, Men's Tennis

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