MAC Announces 2019 Men's Tennis Postseason Awards
MAC ANNOUNCES 2019 MEN’S TENNIS ALL-MAC TEAMS AND POSTSEASON AWARDS
Cleveland, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference (MAC) announced the 2019 Men’s Tennis All-MAC First and Second Teams and specialty awards, including the Player, Newcomer and Coach of the Year, as well as the Jack Vredevelt Sportsmanship Award.
Western Michigan junior Jannik Opitz was named the MAC Player of the Year and earned All-MAC First Team honors after posting a 13-4 overall record at No. 1 singles, including 6-1 in the MAC. A native of Hildesheim, Germany, Opitz also posted a 6-1 overall record at No. 1 doubles and a 12-3 overall record at No. 2 doubles in helping the Broncos to the program’s 13th MAC Men’s Tennis Tournament Championship.
Western Michigan head Coach Dave Morin was named MAC Coach of the Year. Morin’s Broncos went undefeated in the MAC regular season with a 7-0 record for the No. 1 seed and posted a 4-3 win over No. 3 Northern Illinois. For Morin, this marks his second consecutive award and his 11th MAC Coach of the Year during his career in Kalamazoo, Mich. Morin and the Broncos won the MAC Men’s Tennis Tournament Championship for the tenth time in the last 14 years and the fifth time in the last eight years.
Western Michigan will represent the MAC in the NCAA Men’s Tennis Tournament. The Broncos ended the regular season with a 16-8 overall record and by winning seven of their last eight matches. With two wins in the MAC Men’s Tennis Tournament increased Western Michigan’s record improved to 18-8 overall and sport a current five-game winning streak.
Western Michigan freshman Peter Kuszynski was honored as MAC Newcomer of the Year and earned All-MAC Second Team. A native of Markham, Ontario, Canada, Kuszynski in his first season of collegiate competition at No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6 singles with a 15-8 overall record, 6-1 in the MAC. He also played No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 doubles with a 13-6 overall record, 3-1 in the MAC.
Buffalo senior Ethan Nittolo was recognized with the Jack Vredevelt Sportsmanship Award, given annually to a senior who has displayed outstanding sportsmanship throughout his career. A native of Flushing, N.Y., Nittolo at No. 1 singles recorded a 20-12 overall record, 5-2 in the MAC. He also played at No. 1 doubles and posted a 10-9 record, 6-2 in the MAC.
Western Michigan won the MAC regular season title with an undefeated 7-0 league record, 16-8 overall. The Broncos earned the No. 1 seed and defeated No. 5 seed Ball State, 5-0, and outlasted No. 3 seed Northern Illinois, 4-3, to win the MAC Men’s Tennis Tournament Championship.
Western Michigan witnessed senior Jannik Opitz named MAC Player of the Year and All-MAC First Team. Joining Opitz was Lenhard Haupt as All-MAC First Team, as Haupt posted an 11-10 overall record at No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 singles, including 4-1 in the MAC. He also played at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles with a 16-7 overall record, 5-1 in the MAC. Also recognized from Western Michigan was Peter Kuszynski as the MAC Newcomer of the Year and All-MAC Second Team honors.
Northern Illinois completed the regular season as the No. 3 seed with a 11-11 overall record, 3-4 in the MAC, before falling in the MAC Championship. Huskies’ senior Eric Marbach was named All-MAC First Team for the second consecutive year. A native of Naperville, Ill., Marbach posted a 10-10 overall record at No. 1 and No. 2 singles, including 3-4 in the MAC. Marbach also recorded a 14-4 overall record at No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 doubles, including 2-5 in the MAC. Joining Marbach with honors was Bor Schweiger Muzar, who was named All-MAC Second Team. Muzar had a 9-10 overall record at No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 singles, including 3-4 in the MAC. Muzar also played No. 2 doubles with a 9-3 overall record, 5-1 in the MAC.
Buffalo finished as the No. 2 seed with an 11-8 overall record, 6-1 in the MAC during the regular season. Buffalo was recognized as senior Ethan Nittolo was named All-MAC First Team and the Jack Vredevelt Sportsmanship Award winner after posting a 20-12 overall record at No. 1 singles, including 5-2 in the MAC. Joining Nittolo was Villheim Fridell as All-MAC First Team for the second consecutive year. A native of Gothenburg, Sweden, Fridell posted a 19-10 overall record at No. 2 singles, 7-0 in the MAC. Fridell played No. 2 doubles with a 6-5 overall record, including 4-2 in the MAC. Also recognized was junior Hao Sheng Koay as an All-MAC Second Team selection. A native of Kangar, Malaysia, Koay posted an 19-10 overall record at No. 3 singles, including 7-0 in the MAC, while adding a 10-9 overall record at No. 1 doubles, including 6-2 in the MAC.
Ball State finished the regular season as the No. 5 seed and the Cardinals were represented with senior brothers’ Marko Guzina and Nemanja Guzina as All-MAC Second Team selections for the second straight year. Marko Guzina was 10-14 overall at No. 1 and No. 2 singles, including 3-4 in the MAC and posted a 9-8 overall record at No. 1 doubles, including 3-2 in the MAC. Nemanja Guzina added an 8-15 overall mark at No. 1 and No. 2 singles, while adding a 9-8 overall record at No. 1 doubles, including 3-2 in the MAC.
Rounding out the All-MAC First Team was Toledo senior Luka Vitosevic, who competed at No. 1 singles with a 10-8 overall record, including 3-3 in the MAC, while adding an 8-7 overall record at No. 1 doubles, including 2-3 in the MAC. Binghamton senior Ludovico Cestarollo was named All-MAC Second Team. Cestarollo competed at No. 1 singles with a 5-7 ovearall record, 1-3 in the MAC, and added a 5-4 overall record at No. 1 doubles, including 1-0 in the MAC.
2019 All-MAC MEN’S TENNIS
FIRST TEAM
*Jannik Opitz, Western Michigan
^Ethan Nittolo, Buffalo
*Eric Marbach, Northern Illinois
*~Villheim Fridell, Buffalo
^Lenhard Haupt, Western Michigan
Luka Vitosevic, Toledo
SECOND TEAM:
Bor Schweiger Muzar, Northern Illinois
*#Hao Sheng Koay, Buffalo
^Marko Guzina, Ball State
Peter Kuszynski, Western Michigan
Ludovico Cestarollo, Binghamton
^Nemanja Guzina, Ball State
*2018 All-MAC First Team
^2018 All-MAC Second Team
#2017 All-MAC First Team
~2017 All-MAC Second Team
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jannik Opitz, Western Michigan
COACH OF THE YEAR: Dave Morin, Western Michigan
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Peter Kuszynski, Western Michigan
JACK VREDEVELT SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD: Ethan Nittolo, Buffalo
