SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Chattanooga’s Niklas Gerdes has been named the Southern Conference men’s tennis player of the week for all matches played Jan. 10-20, the conference announced Tuesday. The senior is 3-0 in both singles and doubles play. As a team, Chattanooga is 2-1 on the season with a 6-1 loss to Alabama and 6-1 wins over Appalachian State and Union College.
 
All three of Gerdes’s singles wins came at No. 1 and all three were in straight sets. Gerdes defeated Alabama’s Riccardo Roberto, ranked No. 96 nationally, 6-0, 6-4 on Jan. 18. The next day, he earned a convincing 6-0, 6-0 win over Appalachian State’s Milo Bargeron before downing Union’s Lois Castellon 6-2, 6-2 later that afternoon.
 
In doubles action, the native of Geestland, Germany, went 3-0 at No. 2 with teammate Tomas Rodriguez. Against Alabama, the duo beat Roberto and Jeremy Gschwendtner, 6-3. On Jan. 20, the pair picked up a 6-2 win against Appalachian State and 6-1 win over Union.
 
Chattanooga returns to the court on Jan. 25 at Austin Peay.
 
Also nominated: Zvonko Bencedic (The Citadel), Yusuf Khamis (ETSU), Jake Munns (Furman), Olivier Stuart (Mercer) and Rossouw Norval (Samford).
 
SoCon Men’s Tennis Players of the Week
Jan. 21 – Niklas Gerdes, Chattanooga