INDIANAPOLIS - Teams will start to clinch postseason bids soon at this juncture of the regular season as Great Midwest Athletic Conference Tennis Athletes of the Week honors were announced on Wednesday. 
 
The Great Midwest Tennis Championships will be conducted in Owensboro, Ky., once again on April 26-27 with Kentucky Wesleyan serving as host for a four-team bracket for the men’s and women’s team titles. 
 
Men’s Athlete of the Week
Tom Arias
Tiffin
Senior
Chantilly, France (Fresno City College)
 
Arias helped the Dragons sustain an undefeated pace in the conference schedule, improving to 3-0 in the Great Midwest standings with a 4-1 win over Findlay. 
 
Arias won in straight sets in singles competition at the No. 5 matchup and also helped the Dragons sweep the doubles point in the No. 2 slot. 
 
Arias defeated UF’s Sergio Palacio, 7-5, 6-0, and teamed with Gabriel De Oliveira to a 6-3 doubles victory.
 
The Dragons improved to 10-7 overall as the match was completed at the point of decision. The key matchup between 3-0 TU and 3-0 Hillsdale looms this weekend on Saturday. 
 
Women’s Athlete of the Week
Mercedes Fernandez
Walsh
Junior
Sevilla, Spain (Instituto de Educacion a Distancia)
 
Walsh emerged on top of Davis & Elkins as the junior Fernandez did her part to help the Cavaliers improve to 4-1 in the conference standings. 
 
The Cavaliers pitched a conference shutout on the road as Fernandez won in straight sets over D&E’s No. 1 Taylour Newman, 6-0, 6-3. 
 
She also won in doubles with teammate Nicole Beidacki, 6-1. This is her second career conference athlete of the week award. 
 
Walsh improved to 13-7 overall on the season and is currently positioned second if the playoffs to begin today.