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BAY CITY, Mich. - Lake Superior State University sophomore Sergiu Laza (Toronto, Ont.) earned GLIAC Men's Tennis "Athlete of the Week."

GLIAC Men’s Tennis Athlete of the Week:
Sergiu Laza - Lake Superior State
Sophomore
Toronto, Ont.

Sergiu Laza won at No. 2 Singles vs. Ferris State 6-1, 6-7(0-1), 6-4. Again at No. 2 Singles vs. Grand Valley he won 6-4, 6-3. Laza also competed No. 3 Doubles vs. Grand Valley and won 8-6 with partner Travis Toth.

-----GLIAC Men's Tennis Weekly Notes-----

Ferris State Bulldogs (5-5, 2-0 GLIAC)

The Ferris State University men’s tennis team presently holds a 5-5 overall record this campaign with all five losses coming either against NCAA Division I competition or higher nationally-ranked Division II teams. The Bulldogs opened GLIAC play with two victories at home last weekend (March 20-21) over Lake Superior State and Michigan Tech at the FSU Racquet and Fitness Center. The Bulldogs are presently listed 44th in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Division II National Rankings along with fourth in the Midwest Region. Senior Ahmet Demir is the region’s 14th-ranked singles player while the tandem of Justin Hermes and Jack Swan is ninth in the regional doubles listing. FSU will wrap up a three-match homestand versus Albion on Tuesday (March 23) before traveling to Tiffin and Findlay this weekend (March 26-27) for a pair of conference road matches.

Findlay Oilers (3-2, 0-0 GLIAC)

The University of Findlay men’s tennis team knocked off Notre Dame College by a score of 9-0 on Friday, March 19 in Medina, Ohio. The University of Findlay men’s tennis team knocked off Notre Dame College by a score of 9-0 on Friday, March 19 in Medina, Ohio. The University of Findlay men’s tennis team improved to 3-2 on the season with an 8-1 non-conference victory over Adrian College on Sunday, March 21 in Findlay, Ohio. The Oilers swept the doubles competition during the match and won all but one of their singles events.

Grand Valley State Lakers (7-6, 1-1 GLIAC)

Grand Valley State finished the week with a 3-1 overall mark and a 1-1 GLIAC record. The Lakers claimed a 9-0 win over Michigan Tech on Saturday, but dropped a 5-4 decision on Sunday to Lake Superior State. GVSU is 8-6 overall on the year heading into a GLIAC roadtrip at Tiffin (Mar. 27) and Findlay (Mar. 28).

Michigan Tech Huskies (6-5, 0-2 GLIAC)

The Michigan Tech men’s tennis team played its GLIAC-opening matches this weekend and dropped both outings to two of the league’s top teams. The Huskies were swept 9-0 at Grand Valley State Saturday (Mar. 20) and lost 8-1 at Ferris State today. In the match vs. GVSU, the Huskies got off to a slow start in doubles. David Heuer and Anders Sandholm had the closest score at 9-7. The host Lakers won 8-4 and 8-5 and Nos. 1 and 2, respectively. Tech had chances in every singles match, especially at Nos. 2 through 5. Sandholm was beaten in three sets 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 at No. 2. Heuer (No. 3), Doug Yossida (No. 4) and Chris Verhulst (No. 5) all lost in straight sets but were only one break away in each set. Against Ferris State, Heuer and Sandholm provided the Huskies their only point with a No. 2 doubles win 8-6. The Bulldogs controlled play at every other flight of the day. Sandholm’s 6-3, 7-5 loss at No. 2 singles proved to be the closest of the remaining matches. Michigan Tech (6-5, 0-2 GLIAC) will return to play next weekend with more GLIAC matches.

Lake Superior State Lakers (5-6, 1-1 GLIAC)

Sergiu Laza (Toronto, Ont.) won both singles match at No. 2 for LSSU. Laza defeated Ferris State 6-1, 6-7(0-1), 6-4 and Grand Valley State 6-4, 6-3. Laza was the only LSSU player to win both singles matches. Laza and doubles partner Travis Toth (St. Johns, Mich.) defeated GVSU at No. 3 doubles 8-6.

Northwood Timberwolves (3-3, 1-0 GLIAC)

No. 12 Northwood opened the GLIAC portion of their schedule with a 9-0 win over Tiffin. The Timberwolves are now 3-3 overall, 1-0 in the GLIAC. The Timberwolves swept the doubles matches, going up 3-0 heading into singles. Northwood then won all six singles matches, five of which were in straight sets. The Timberwolves won despite not having No. 2 singles/No. 1 doubles player Frederic Schoelzel in the lineup. NU continues its quest for the school’s 16th straight GLIAC Championship this week with a pair of matches - Northwood will hostLake Superior Friday (March 26) at 1 p.m. before taking on Michigan Tech Saturday (March 27) at 10 a.m.

Tiffin Dragons (4-7, 0-1 GLIAC)

Tiffin University dropped a couple close matches but could not keep up with 12th-ranked Northwood in their GLIAC opener, falling 9-0. The closest match came at first singles, where Luiz Carvalho fell in three sets 0-6, 7-5, 7-10. Carvalho/Andres Torres also lost in doubles play 6-8 while Ryan Toporowsky/Brian Coffman fell 4-8. The other singles matches were all straight set losses. Tiffin University managed just two wins at Walsh as they fell 7-2. Harry Smith won at second singles 6-3, 6-4 while the doubles team of Andres Torres/Ryan Toporowsky also won 8-4. Brian Coffman/Luiz Carvalho fell in a close doubles match 6-8 while Coffman and Santiago Revelo also lost three set singles matches. Tiffin University dropped two three-set matches, just falling to Cedarville on the road 5-4. Luiz Carvalho fell 6-4, 4-6, 2-6 while Andres Torres also lost 6-4, 6-7, 3-6 in pivotal matches. Harry Smith also fell 4-6, 4-6 while singles victories came from Leonid Vladimirov 6-3, 6-4 and Brian Coffman 6-4, 6-4. In doubles play, TU’s Torres/Carvalho won 8-5 as did Coffman/Smith 8-3.

Wayne State Warriors (7-3, 0-0 GLIAC)

The Wayne State men’s tennis team concluded its set of matches last week in Orlando, Fla. by defeating Hamilton College 7-2. After losing two of its three doubles matches, WSU responded by sweeping singles play. Sophomore Bertrand Moulin, graduate student Britton Steele and senior Roberto Gomez all earned straight-set wins while senior Kevin Turnbull, freshman Thomas Ducret and freshman Oscar Gamarra won their bouts in three sets. The Warriors will begin a four-match homestand on Tuesday against Ohio Dominican before staring GLIAC play vs. Michigan Tech and Lake Superior this weekend.