INDIANAPOLIS – Cedarville and Hillsdale were collectively honored for Great Midwest Athletic Conference Men’s & Women’s Tennis Athletes of the Week awards as announced on Tuesday afternoon.
 
The Yellow Jackets men toppled Bellarmine in head-to-head regional dual action while the Chargers were one of five Great Midwest schools playing at the ITA Midwest Regional up in Allendale, Mich., hosted by Grand Valley State.
 
The sport of tennis features several new rule changes, including the three matches of doubles scoring resulting in one point. Team scoring for NCAA competition has been reduced down to the best of seven points with four or more points being required to earn a team win.
 
Doubles matches have also been lowered to a six-game format and the third set for any singles bout is played to a 10-set tiebreak.
 
Men’s Athlete of the Week
Matt Brumbaugh
Cedarville
Senior
West Milton, OH (Milton-Union HS)
 
Brumbaugh is now a four-time weekly award winner in his career as the Yellow Jackets edged Bellarmine, 4-3, in the first action of the fall.
 
Brumbaugh lifted the Yellow Jackets with a win in the No. 1 singles position in straight sets and contributed to the doubles point swinging in Cedarville’s favor.
 
It represented his 41st career win in dual competition, which places him fourth all-time in conference history in wins. His 36th doubles victory establishes him fifth all-time in career doubles victories among all Great Midwest players.
 
Brumbaugh defeated Caleb Buckman, 6-1, 6-3, in the battle of No. 1’s while he teamed up Alex Totten for a 6-4 victory in the No. 1 doubles matchup.
 
Women’s Athlete of the Week
Katie Bell
Hillsdale
Junior
Carlisle, Cumbra, England (Queen Elizabeth Grammar School)
 
Bell won a pair of singles matches and won the doubles consolation finals in a crowded field at the ITA Regional, one of the fall’s premier events around the country while getting ready for the spring.
 
Bell teamed up with senior Corinne Prost to win the A Doubles Consolation Draw over a pairing from Walsh at the regional event. After a first-round loss to Indianapolis, Bell and Prost earned wins over Maryville, Lewis and Walsh.
 
Individually, Bell also performed well, going 2-2, losing to Indianapolis in a third-set tiebreaker. She advanced through the draw with wins over Davenport and Missouri-St. Louis.