SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Furman’s Jamie Connel has been named the Southern Conference men’s tennis player of the week for all matches played March 15-21, the conference announced on Tuesday.
 
Connel won both his singles and doubles matches as the Paladins topped Chattanooga 5-2 on Sunday for their first league win of the season. The freshman from Edinburgh, Scotland, teamed with Ivan Mitric at No. 1 doubles as the nation’s 29^th-ranked squad earned a 6-4 win over Tomas Rodriguez and Peyton Gatti.
 
In singles play, Connel topped Kerim Hyatt in straight sets at No. 2, 6-3, 6-2.
 
Furman (9-7, 1-0 SoCon) returns to action at Samford (3-9, 1-2) on Saturday at 1 p.m. CT / 2 p.m. ET.
 
Also nominated: Thiago Pernas (ETSU), Lucas Wayenburg (Mercer), Hugh Knapp (UNCG), Jim Hendrikx (Samford) and Robert Young (Wofford).
 
SoCon Men’s Tennis Players of the Week
Jan. 18       Mohammed Ali Bellalouna, Samford
Jan. 25       Tomas Rodriguez, Chattanooga
Feb. 1         Lucas Wayenburg, Mercer
Feb. 8         Dimitri Badra, ETSU
Feb. 15       Yusuf Khamis, ETSU
Feb. 22       Kerim Hyatt, Chattanooga
March 1      Dimitri Badra, ETSU
March 8      Dimitri Badra, ETSU
March 15    Mark Endler, Wofford
March 22    Jamie Connel, Furman