SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Illinois State’s Melker Isaksson and Omaha’s Ines Absisan's performances during crucial matches earned them this week’s TicketSmarter Summit League Men’s and Women’s Tennis Athlete of the Week honors, league officials released Tuesday.
 
Isaksson played a huge role in Illinois State’s 4-3 road win at Oral Roberts to help the Redbirds clinch a spot in the Summit League Tennis Championships. Isaksson paired up with Diego Le Gal Perez at the No. 2 doubles court and notched the team’s lone doubles win. The duo defeated Aaron Brewer and Kyle Johnson, 6-2.
 
With the match tied up 3-3, it came down to Isaksson’s performance on the No. 3 singles court. He rallied after dropping the first set to Ezequiel Monferrer, 5-7, and won the final two sets 6-2, 7-6 to secure the victory for the Redbirds.
 
Absisan helped spark the Mavericks to a crucial 4-3 win over North Dakota. Absisan teamed up with Madison Gallegos on the No. 1 doubles court to defeat Sapir Sela and Andrea Jansson 6-4 en route to the doubles point. She went on to defeat Allie Ochotorena (1-6, 6-1, 7-6) on the No. 3 singles court.
 
Absisan’s efforts in Omaha’s win helped the Mavericks to a position to advance to the Summit League Tennis Championships with one week left in the regular season.
 
Melker Isaksson, Illinois State
Jr | Lidkoping, Sweden

• Earned his second career athlete of the week honor
• Rallied from down a set to clinch a 4-3 victory for the Redbirds
• Helped ISU secure a spot at the Summit League Tennis Championships

Also nominated: Matija Matic, Drake
 
Ines Absisan, Omaha
Sr | Brussels, Belgium

• Collected her first career weekly accolade
• Won both her doubles match and her singles match against North Dakota
• Helped put Omaha in a position to advance to the Summit League Tennis Championships

2022 Tennis Athletes of the Week
January 18
M: Daniel Krulig, Denver
 
January 25
W: Estella Jaeger, South Dakota
 
February 1
M: Edmond Aynedjian, North Dakota
W: Camille Verden-Anderson, Denver
 
February 8
M: Nicholas Herrero Cuesta, Denver
W: Habiba Aly, South Dakota
 
February 15
M: Todd Chen, Omaha
W: Oleksandra Nahurska, Oral Roberts
 
February 22
M: Mikhail Korkunov, Omaha
W: Sapir Sela, North Dakota
 
March 1
M: Cian McDonnell, North Dakota
W: Britt Pursell, Denver
 
March 8
M: Nico Herrero Cuesta, Denver
W: Britt Pursell, Denver
 
March 15
M: Matt Summers, Denver
W: Jana Lazarevic, South Dakota
 
March 22
M: Evan Fragistas, Drake
W: Michela Xibilia, Kansas City
 
March 29
M: Matija Matic, Drake
W: Andrea Jansson, North Dakota
 
April 5
M: Nikita Snezhko, North Dakota
W: Anna Riedmiller, Denver
 
April 12
M: Melker Isaksson, Illinois State
W: Ines Absisan, Omaha