WALTHAM, Mass. – Brandeis University sophomores Alexa Katz of Philadelphia, Pa., and Marissa Lazar of Hewlett, N.Y., of the women's tennis team, and junior Blake Minchoff of Fiskdale, Mass., of the men's soccer team, have been selected as University Athletic Association Athletes of the Week for Sept. 19. They are the Judges' first honorees of 2011-12.

      Katz and Lazar, a doubles team for the Judges, lost just three games between them in Brandeis's season-opening 9-0 win over Simmons College on Sept. 13. As a doubles team, they picked up an 8-1 win at No. 3. In singles, they earned the two clinching points, with Katz earning a 6-0, 6-0 win at No. 5  and Lazar taking a 6-0, 6-2 decision at No. 6. Lazar's victory was her second as part of the top six in the lineup.

      Minchoff, a goalkeeper, was selected as the UAA Defensive Player of the Week. He made five saves for his third shutout of the season in a 5-0 win over previously undefeated WPI on Sept. 15 in Brandeis's only game of the week. Four of his first five saves came in the first half as the Judges took a 1-0 lead. Overall this season, Minchoff has allowed just one goal and made 15 saves in four games, giving him Association-leading marks of an 0.25 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage.   

      Katz is a 2010 graduate of Abington Friends School, Jenkintown, Pa.

      Lazar is a 2010 graduate of Lynbrook High School.

      Minchoff is a 2009 graduate of Tantasqua High School.