GLIAC -- The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) has announced its weekly awards following the 11th week of the 2026 tennis spring season. Wayne State sophomore George Day and Michigan Tech sophomore Alexandra Nikonenko received recognition.
MEN'S ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: George Day, Wayne State
Waye State University men's tennis student-athlete George Day (Southampton, United Kingdom / Peter Symonds College) helped the Warriors to a pair of wins this past weekend. The squad posted a 6-1 win over Purdue University Northwest before sweeping Roosevelt University 7-0. Against the Pride, the sophomore tallied a 6-2 win in doubles with partner Thomas Mathys (Grimisuat, Switzerland / ECCG - Martigny), while surgically collecting a 6-1, 6-2 win in the top singles flight. Day was masterful against the Lakers as well, nabbing a 6-3 win in the No. 2 doubles position to go with a 6-1, 6-1 triumph at the No. 1 singles slot.
WOMEN'S ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Alexandra Nikonenko, Michigan Tech
Michigan Tech sophomore Alexandra Nikonenko has been named the GLIAC women’s tennis player of the week for the first time in her career. Nikonenko split both her No. 1 singles matches and No. 3 doubles matches in the regular season weekend finale at Gates Tennis Center. In singles, Nikonenko won 6-4, 1-6, 6-2 against Davenport and fell 7-6 (7-0), 6-3 against Grand Valley State. She claimed a 7-5 doubles victory with partner Katerina Khardina against the Lakers. The duo fell 7-5 versus the Panthers. Nikonenko is 10-9 as Tech’s top singles player and 13-9 in doubles, playing with six different teammates.
MEN'S HONORABLE MENTION: Bora Bakici (Grand Valley State), Jaden Bender (Davenport), Samuel Dickson (Purdue Northwest), Laurent Teysseire (Michigan Tech)
WOMEN'S HONORABLE MENTION: Amy Bloch (Davenport), Madeline Peisley (Ferris State)
