MIDLAND, Mich. -- The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) announced its 2026 All-GLIAC Men's Tennis Team on Thursday following the opening matches of the conference tournament at the Midland Tennis Center in Midland, Mich.
Ferris State's Kevin Kovacs was named GLIAC Athlete of the Year, Grand Valley State's Bora Bakici earned GLIAC Freshman of the Year honors and Ferris State was selected as GLIAC Men's Coaching Staff of the Year. Purdue Northwest's Samuel Dickson was honored as the recipient of the GLIAC Men's Tennis Sportsmanship Award.
2026 GLIAC ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Kevin Kovacs, Ferris State
Junior standout Kevin Kovacs has had a big season for the Bulldogs, who claimed the GLIAC Regular Season Championship with a perfect 6-0 record. Kovacs has posted a 16-5 overall singles record this year while competing at the top flight in the Bulldog lineup, including a 4-1 mark in GLIAC individual play. Additionally, he’s recorded a 14-4 doubles mark on the year and paired up with Felipe Iser to tally a 4-1 record in conference doubles action at the number two flight. Overall, Kovacs completed regular-season play with a combined 30-9 record and an 8-2 league mark in singles and doubles play. His performance has helped FSU to a 15-3 record and a top two regional ranking along with earning the number one seed for the GLIAC Tournament. Kovacs is currently ranked among the nation’s top 45 singles and doubles players in the ITA National Rankings.
2026 GLIAC FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Bora Bakici, Grand Valley State
Bora Bakici has been named the GLIAC men’s tennis freshman of the year. Bakici becomes the first Laker in program history to earn freshman of the year honors. This season, Bakici has posted a 13-2 singles record going 5-1 in conference play. Bakici went a perfect 6-0 from the top singles position and 7-2 from the No. 2 position. In doubles play, Bakici posted a 5-1 conference record all from the top position with teammate Patricio Sepulveda. In the fall, Bakici won the Midwest ITA doubles championship with Sepulveda to advance to the ITA Cup.
2026 GLIAC COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR
Ferris State
Head Coach Mark Doren and his staff led the Ferris State University men’s tennis squad to the program’s 22nd all-time Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Championship this spring. The Bulldogs earned the top seed for the league tournament and currently own a 15-3 overall record along with finishing a perfect 6-0 in GLIAC play. Doren’s squad is presently ranked second in the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Rankings and in line to potentially host NCAA postseason play. The Bulldogs registered their first win over a NCAA D1 opponent in at least 20 years with a 5-2 triumph over Western Michigan this spring. By winning the league title this year, the Bulldogs have now claimed eight of the last 11 regular-season titles that have been awarded.
ALL-GLIAC FIRST TEAM SINGLES
Bora Bakici, Grand Valley State
George Day, Wayne State
Samuel Dickson, Purdue Northwest
Felipe Iser, Ferris State
Luis Klaus, Wayne State
Kevin Kovacs, Ferris State
Jose Perez, Ferris State
ALL-GLIAC FIRST TEAM DOUBLES
Erik Kovacs/Adrian Catahan, Ferris State
Kevin Kovacs/Felipe Iser, Ferris State
Patricio Sepulveda/Bora Bakici, Grand Valley State
ALL-GLIAC SECOND TEAM SINGLES
Adrian Catahan, Ferris State
Axel Le Ho, Grand Valley State
Thomas Mathys, Wayne State
Praneel Pichika, Ferris State
Jorge Ruiz, Grand Valley State
Jan Stolin, Davenport
Tom Wasner, Wayne State
ALL-GLIAC SECOND TEAM DOUBLES
Stephen Claassen/Lawrence Ivanow, Grand Valley State
George Day/Thomas Mathys, Wayne State
Luis Klaus/Harry Forsyth, Wayne State
ALL-GLIAC HONORABLE MENTION
Jaden Bender, Davenport
Erik Kovacs, Ferris State
Denys Zamaraiev, Grand Valley State
Laurent Teysseire, Michigan Tech
Joao Martins, Purdue Northwest
Jules Rumeau, Roosevelt
Warren Gunnar, Wayne State
GLIAC SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
Samuel Dickson, Purdue Northwest
