MAC Men's Singles Player of the Week
Chris Adams, Ball State, Senior, Port Huron, Mich.
Adams came back in a big way for the Cardinals in both their matches this weekend against Cleveland State leading BSU to back-to-back 4-3 victories over the Vikings on Saturday and Sunday. It was Adams would claim the wins after his three set thrillers at the No. 3 singles position. On Saturday, Adams defeated Cleveland State's Maxime Mareschal-Hay, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(3). Adams then pretty much mimicked that performance against CSU's Clark Bilinovich 6-7 (4), 7-6 (4), 7-6(7) to help Ball State improve to 3-1 for the year.
MAC Men's Doubles Team of the Week
Arjun Honnappa, Western Michigan, Sophomore, Bengalura, India
Fynn Lohse, Western Michigan, Junior, Kaltenkirchen, Germany
Honnappa and Lohse went 4-0 in doubles against Grand Valley State and Ferris State to help the Broncos sweep both opponents over the weekend. Against the Lakers they opened the double-header with a 6-2 win at No. 2 doubles. They capped off the day with a 6-1 win in the evening match, this time at No. 1 doubles. In Sunday's double-header against the Bulldogs the duo started off at No. 1 doubles, winning 6-1 and then 6-1 again during the final match of the weekend at No. 2.
Other Nominees
Kristopher Ortega, NIU, Junior, Homer Glen, Ill.
Kristopher Ortega scored a pair of wins to open the season, helping NIU open the year with victories over Youngstown State and North Dakota. In NIU’s first match of the season against Youngstown State, Ortega scored a 6-4, 7-6 victory over Laurentiu Mandocescu, playing at number two. Ortega continued his perfect start to the season as he moved to number one against North Dakota and posted a 6-1, 6-1 win over Johnatan Parat to start the season 2-0.
Jackson Boone, Western Michigan, Freshman, Vancouver, B.C.
Boone went 4-0 in singles play during his debut weekend, helping the Broncos start off perfect with sweeps of Grand Valley State and Ferris State. Against GVSU he was slotted at No. 3 singles, winning 6-4, 6-4 in the opening match and then 6-1, 6-2 to cap off the double-header. Against FSU he was bumped up to No. 2 singles. He opened the day with a 6-4, 6-4 win and closed out the day with a 6-3, 6-4 win over his opponent.
Bryce Bonin, Ball State, Senior, Crown Point, Ind
Eli Herran, Ball State, SophomoreFort Wayne, Ind.
Bonin and Herran closed this weekend's two-match series over Cleveland State with a 6-4 doubles victory at the No. 3 position over Cleveland State’s Kade Mindry and Maxime Mareshal-Hay. The day prior, Bonin and Herran were knotted a 4-4 against the Vikings same twosome at the No. 3 spot. The Cardinals went on to win both matches over the Vikings 4-3 to improve BSU’s overall record to 3-1.
Mikko Malinen, NIU, Sophomore, Malmo, Sweeden
Victor Spolidorio NIU, Junior, Peoria, Ill.
NIU’s number one doubles pair of Mikko Malinen and Victor Spolidorio won a pair of matches on Saturday (Jan. 30) to help the Huskies start the season 2-0. Malinen and Spolidorio topped Vasilis Vardakis and Will Everett of Youngstown State, 6-4, in the first match of the season before downing the North Dakota duo of Lucas Percy and Cian McDonnell, 7-6, to start the season 2-0.
