SPARTANBURG, S.C. – ETSU’s Dimitri Badra has been named the Southern Conference men’s tennis player of the week for all matches played March 15-21, the conference office announced Monday.
 
Badra, a redshirt sophomore, went 2-0 at No. 1 singles and 1-1 at No. 3 doubles on the week as the Bucs fell in a close contest at Georgia State, 4-3, on March 19 and rebounded to down Mercer 6-1 a day later in Macon, Georgia.  
 
In singles play, the native of Maracay, Venezuela, started off the week with a hard-fought 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-3 win over Georgia State’s Vazha Shubladze and downed Mercer’s Lucas Wayenburg, 6-0, 6-1 to move to 3-0 in league play.
 
In doubles play, Badra and teammate Miguel Este fell 6-1 to Georgia State’s top duo but bounced back to earn a 6-1 win over Mercer’s top pair.
 
ETSU (5-6, 3-0 SoCon) hosts Furman (5-8, 2-0) on Friday, March 26, and Samford (8-6, 2-0) on Sunday, March 28.  
 
Also nominated: Ivan Mitric (Furman), Samuel Barrow (Mercer), Ollie Palmer (UNCG), Rossouw Norval (Samford), Kerim Hyatt (Chattanooga).    
 
SoCon Men’s Tennis Players of the Week
Jan. 25 – Dimitri Badra, ETSU
Feb. 1 – Tomas Rodriguez, Chattanooga
Feb. 8 – Rossouw Norval, Samford
Feb. 15 – Dimitri Badra, ETSU
Feb. 22 – Ivan Mitric, Furman
March 1 – Omar Williams, Wofford
March 8 – Tomas Rodriguez, Chattanooga
March 15 – Frazier Rengifo, ETSU
March 22 – Dimitri Badra, ETSU