WSU's Grey and Arafat selected GLIAC Tennis Players of the Week

Posted: Apr 16, 2024

GLIAC -- The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) has announced its 11th weekly tennis awards for the 2024 campaign. Wayne State swept the awards, with senior Daniel Grey earning GLIAC Men's Tennis Player of the Week honors and sophomore Malak Arafat receiving GLIAC Women's Tennis Player of the Week.

MEN'S PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Daniel Grey, Wayne State

Wayne State University senior Daniel Grey (Wiesbaden, Germany) led the way for the Warriors in their home matches against #36-Grand Valley State and #28-Ferris State last weekend. The WSU standout, ranked eighth in Division II for singles, defeated a pair of formidable opponents in the category - who were also ranked nationally. In the Green and Gold's 4-3 triumph over GVSU this past Friday, Grey downed the No. 60-ranked Denys Zamaraiev by set scores of 6-4, 3-6, and 6-1, before handling the No. 19-ranked Esunge Ndumbe 6-4, 6-3 on Sunday against FSU. Both matches for the senior came at the No. 1 position, where Grey is 14-5 for the campaign (15-5 overall) and a spotless 4-0 in the GLIAC. Grey and his doubles partner Cedric Drenth dropped the Lakers' Sean Miller and Victor Lopes 6-4 at the first flight for their 13th victory (13-7) together this spring. It's the sixth time overall in his collegiate career, and fourth time this season in , that the senior has been honored with Player of the Week recognition.

WOMEN'S PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Malak Arafat, Wayne State

Wayne State University sophomore Malak Arafat (Alexandria, Egypt) helped Wayne State to a pair of crucial home victories over Grand Valley State (7-0) and Ferris State (6-1) last weekend to put the Warriors in command of the race for the GLIAC Regular-Season Championship. Both of her singles wins came at the second flight over GVSU's Taylor Barrett (6-2, 6-3) and FSU's Sophie Daavettila (6-2, 6-1), which elevated her spring record to 12-6 with a perfect 5-0 mark in the GLIAC. Arafat paired with Martyna Szpakowska for back-to-back 6-3 doubles triumphs against the Lakers' Vasileia Griva and Rachel Sam, as well as the Bulldogs' Daavettila and Parker Nolan. Together, Arafat and Szpakowska (ranked No. 48 nationally in Division II) have won each of their last six doubles matches together and are 14-2 overall this season. It's the first GLIAC Player of the Week award in Arafat's collegiate career.