SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Drakes’s Ben Johnson along with Omaha’s Bryan Kuntz and Pavan Uppu, and the Denver trio of Louise Wikander, Marley Lambert, and Hana Becirovic Novak garnered the third Kwik Star Summit League Men’s and Women’s Tennis Peak Performer of the Week honors, League officials released Tuesday.
Johnson secured the match clinching point for the Bulldogs from the No. 3 singles spot, defeating defeating Marquette’s Remi St. Laurent 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. The England native carried that energy into his match against Creighton, defeating Zachary Kuo in straight sets 7-5, 6-2 to tie the match at 2-2. The Bulldogs eventually won the match 4-3 as the Drake junior earned the second singles honor of his career.
The Omaha duo of Kuntz and Uppu earned a win from the No. 1 spot over Wisconsin's Oliver Olsson and Thomas Zlatohlavek (6-2) to garner the men’s doubles peak team of the week for the second time this season. The duo also went toe-to-toe with No. 80 Alexander Antonopoulos and Oscar Corin of Western Michigan, but ultimately fell to the Broncos’ duo 7-5.
On the women’s side, Wikander went 2-0 in singles to help Denver earn a win over Miami (OH) (7-0) and Colorado (4-2). She earned her fourth career individual peak accolade.
Playing from the No. 1 singles for just the second and third time in her career, Wikander opened the weekend with a victory over Miami (OH)’s top player (6-1, 6-1). The Sweden native carried that momentum into her match against Colorado’s Aya El Sayed, winning 6-2, 6-4, to tie the team score at 1-1 and help the Pioneers mount a 4-3 comeback win.
At the No. 1 court in doubles, Marley Lambert partnered with Hana Becirovic Novak, grabbing a win against Miami (OH) (6-2) and Colorado (6-2) to go perfect in doubles play and help that duo earn the women’s doubles peak team of the week award for the first time as a pair.
MEN’S TENNIS SINGLE PEAK PERFORMER OF THE WEEK
Ben Johnson, Drake (Jr)
- Garnered his second career singles peak performer award
- Went 2-0 from the No. 3 spot in singles
- Secured the match clinching victory over Marquette’s Remi St. Laurent with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory
- Defeated Creighton’s Zachary Kuo in straight sets 7-5, 6-2
Also nominated: Tomas Valencia (Illinois State), Leo Galliano (North Dakota)
MEN’S TENNIS DOUBLES PEAK TEAM OF THE WEEK
Bryan Kuntz (Gr) & Pavan Uppu (So), Omaha
- Kuntz earned the fourth doubles peak performer award of his career
- Uppu garnered his third career doubles peak performer honor
- Earned a win at No. 1 doubles over Wisconsin's Oliver Olsson and Thomas Zlatohlavek (6-2)
- Also nominated: Arin Menon & Alex Yeager (Drake), Christos Alex & Walker Valentine (North Dakota)
WOMEN’S TENNIS SINGLES PEAK PERFORMER OF THE WEEK
Louise Wikander, Denver (Sr)
- Received the fourth individual peak performer accolade of her career
- Took both sets from Miami (OH)’s No. 1 player, 6-1, 6-1 leading DU to a (7-0) team win
- Secured a win over Colorado’s No. 1 player 6-2, 6-4 to help DU win (4-2)
- Moved to 5-0 during the spring dual season
Also nominated: Emilia Korseth (St. Thomas), Selena Bird (South Dakota)
WOMEN’S TENNIS DOUBLES PEAK TEAM OF THE WEEK
Hana Becirovic Novak (Sr) & Marley Lambert (Sr), Denver
- Becirovic Novak captured her first peak doubles team award of her career
- Lambert collected her fifth doubles career weekly honor
- Duo secured a 6-2 victory over Miami (OH)’s No. 1 doubles team
- Defeated Colorado’s No. 1 doubles team (6-2)
Also nominated:N/A
2026 Peak Performers of the Week
January 20
MS: Luis Marcos Bonifasi, Oral Roberts
MD: Bryan Kuntz & Pavan Uppu, Omaha
WS: Ethel Li, North Dakota
WD: Ethel Li & Jule Schulte, North Dakota
January 27
MS: Liam Spiers, Omaha
MD: Theo Coats & Connor Robb-Wilcox, Denver
WS: Louise Wikander, Denver
WD: Louise Wikander & Claudia Martinez de Velasco, Denver
February 3
MS: Ben Johnson, Drake
MD: Bryan Kuntz & Pavan Uppu, Omaha
WS: Louise Wikander, Denver
WD: Hana Becirovic Novak & Marley Lambert, Denver
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