INDIANAPOLIS – The shortened fall season continued over the weekend with several teams in action for new Great Midwest Athletic Conference Tennis Athletes of the Week awards that were announced Wednesday.
 
Men’s Athlete of the Week
Nikita Parfenov
Tiffin
Junior
Limassol, Cyprus
 
Parfenov and the defending conference champion Dragons started out the fall season at the Charger Invitational hosted by Hillsdale.
 
Parfenov had an impressive start in A singles, taking down the No. 10-ranked player in the region from Ashland in a thrilling match that went to an 11-9 tiebreaker.
 
He also pulled out another exciting victory in the semifinals, defeating Hillsdale 6-2, 5-7, 10-6 to reach the final.
 
Parfenov may have played more tennis than any other Dragon over the weekend, as his finals match also went to a tiebreaker, but the junior could not complete the run and fell to Ashland 4-6, 7-5, 7-10.
 
In doubles, Parfenov and his partner Michael Gurtner scored a 6-3 victory in their opening match.
 
This is his second career conference weekly honor in men’s tennis.
 
 
Women’s Athlete of the Week
Laiying Alvarado
Findlay
Sophomore
Lara, Barquisimeto, Venezuela (Instituto Inmaculada Concepcion)
 
The reigning conference freshman of the year had an impressive showing out at the Bowling Green State Invite on Sunday.
 
In singles, Alvarado recorded a pair of singles victories and earned another doubles win playing alongside 2018-19 Great Midwest Player of the Year Samantha Sweet.
 
Alvarado defeated a Division I competitor in straight sets, taking down Marharita-sophia Tav from host Bowling Green State, 6-3, 6-3.
 
She then proceeded to beat Dina Nouaime of Oberlin also in straight sets, this time by a score of 6-2, 6-3. Her scheduled match vs. Ava Thielman of Oakland was not finished due to retirement.
 
Alvarado and Sweet beat their assigned doubles combo from Oberlin, 6-2. This is the sophomore’s first conference athlete of the week award.