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 22-28, the conference announced on Tuesday.
 
Connel won both his singles and doubles matches as the Paladins topped Samford 5-2 on Saturday to move to 2-0 in league play. The freshman from Edinburgh, Scotland, teamed with Ivan Mitric at No. 1 doubles as the nation’s 54^th-ranked squad earned a 7-6 win over Jim Hendrikx and Mohammed Ali Bellalouna.
 
In singles play, Connel topped Hendrikx in straight sets at No. 2, 7-5, 6-4.
 
Furman (10-7, 2-0 SoCon) visits Mercer (6-10, 0-2) on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
 
Also nominated: Frazier Rengifo (ETSU), David Georgadze (Mercer), Nico Grewe (UNCG), Mohammed Ali Bellalouna (Samford), Simon Labbe (Chattanooga) and Mark Endler (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
March 29    Jamie Connel, Furman