MAC MEN’S TENNIS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
John Pelton, Western Michigan
Sophomore - Midland, Mich./Midland HS
Pelton went 2-0 and won the deciding match to help Western Michigan defeat No. 65 Iowa, 4-3, on the road on Saturday. Pelton teamed with Brady Crosby to win 8-3 at No. 2 doubles and then with the match knotted at 3-3, he won his singles match in bizarre fashion. Pelton had to wait 105 minutes and then make a venue change because the lights went out in the middle of an ice storm at the original facility with the match tied 1-1 in the third set. He lost his serve at the new venue to go down, 2-1, before storming back to win the third set and the match 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 at No. 5 singles.
ADDITIONAL NOMINEES
Joe Epkey - Ball State
Senior - Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove HSEpkey rallied off a victory over Big Ten foe Purdue in No. 1 singles after earning a 6-3, 6-7 (6), 7-5 win over Paul Rose. The Cardinals won the doubles point but lost the match, 4-3.
Kirill Kolomytes - Buffalo
Freshman - Moscow, Russia/Moscow HS 155In UB’s matchup with Atlantic Coast Conference member Boston College, freshman Kirill Kolomytes provided the offense for the Bulls, scoring doubles and singles wins. Kolomytes paired with Yules Hadisubroto to defeat Sam Wagner and Soma Kesthely, 8-6, and help the Bulls to claim the doubles point. Kolomytes also downed Wagner, 7-6 (5), 6-4, in the number three singles match for UB’s other point. Kolomytes pulled his singles record above .500 on Saturday and is now 4-3 in his UB career.
Jared Miller - Toledo
Sophomore - Parkersburg, W.Va./Parkersburg HSJared went 4-0 and helped the Rockets to win both matches this weekend over Cleveland State 7-0 and Kalamazoo 6-1. He competed at No. 2 singles and teamed up with his brother at No. 3 doubles allowing others to move to the top of the line-up in doubles. Miller won 6-2, 6-4 against Cleveland State and 6-0, 6-1 against Kalamazoo.
This Year’s Honorees
Jan. 17 - Kevin Hayward, Western Michigan
Jan. 24 - Aaron Phillips, Ball State
Feb. 1 - Brian Livingston, Northern Illinois
Feb. 7 - Brady Crosby, Western Michigan
Feb. 14 - Renan Constantinio, IPFW
Feb. 21 - Tim Bradshaw, Western Michigan
Mar. 3 - John Pelton, Western Michigan