KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The MIAA/GAC has announced the Men's Tennis Athletes of the Week for the first week of spring competition. The North Division Athlete of the Week is Emporia State's Theo Belmonte and Ouachita Baptist's Francisco Oliveira was selected as the South Division Athlete of the Week. 
 
North Division Athlete of the Week – Theo Belmonte – Emporia State
Theo Belmonte won at number three singles and number two doubles as Emporia State posted a 4-3 victory over Augustana in the MIAA/GAC North Division opener for both teams. He teamed with Sergio Vera to post a 6-3 victory in number two doubles as the Hornets swept the doubles competition to pick up the first point. He won 6-2, 4-6, 6-0 at number three singles as Emporia State took three of six singles matches to move to 1-0 in conference play.
 
South Division Athlete of the Week – Francisco Oliveira – Ouachita Baptist
Thoe Belmonte helped Ouachita beat two ranked teams to start the 2022 spring season, defeating No. 11 Delta State 7-0 and No. 19 Southwest Baptist 6-1. The senior went 2-0 in doubles and 2-0 in singles. Against Delta State, Belmonte had a 6-3 doubles win with teammate Santiago Kearney in first position. He also competed in the first position in singles and came from behind to win 2-6, 6-2, 6-4. In the Tigers win over Southwest Baptist, Belmonte teamed up with Kearney again for a 6-2 doubles win in the first position. The then won playing number one singles, 6-4 and 6-2.
 
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
South Division – Stuart Rehfuss – Southern Arkansas 
In his return to the Muleriders, Rehfuss saw his first collegiate action since 2020 as he helped No. 22 Southern Arkansas knock off No. 11 Delta State 4-3. Rehfuss operated at number two and rallied to defeated the Statesmen's Hugo Stroppiana in three sets 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. He teamed up with Sofiane Bah at number two doubles and the pair beat DSU's Come Bracaval and Hugo Stroppiana 6-4. Two days later, Rehfuss helped Southern Arkansas knock off its second-straight top 20 opponent in No. 19 Southwest Baptist with a 5-2 win in Arkadelphia. Rehfuss again joined Bah and the pair edged the Bearcats Alvaro Nunez and David Szeri 7-6 (7-4). In singles action, Rehfuss dismissed Nunez at number two by a score of 6-1, 6-1.
 
North Division – Raul-Alin Dicu – Washburn 
Raul-Alin Dicu grabbed a doubles and singles win in an Ichabods victory over William Woods. At number two doubles, Dicu defeated the No. 7 NAIA Central Region doubles team, 6-4, to give Washburn the doubles point. Then at number one singles, Dicu defeated the NAIA Central Region second-ranked player, 6-4 and 7-5 to regain the lead for the Ichabods.

North Division – Henry Dornbusch – Augustana
Henry Dornbusch went 2-0 playing number one singles with wins against Emporia States (6-2, 6-3) and Newmans Pedja Kolaic (6-4, 6-1, 6-4).