After a breakout season in 2020-21, Hillsdale College junior men's tennis player Tyler Conrad hasn't let his play slip in the 2021-22 campaign.
The Midland, Michigan native started the spring 2022 campaign on a tear, going a perfect 3-0 in matches this weekend while helping the Chargers to a 4-2 victory over Lawrence Tech on Friday.
For his play, Conrad was named the G-MAC Men's Tennis Athlete of the Week for the week of Jan. 31 through Feb. 7, the conference office announced on Monday.
It's the fourth time in his career Conrad has received a weekly honor from the G-MAC. In play at No. 3 singles, the junior defeated Nils Hammarsten of Lawrence Tech 7-5, 6-1 on Friday, then picked up a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Pedja Trifunovic of Lewis in the Chargers' 5-2 defeat at the hands of the Flyers on Sunday.
Conrad also had success at No. 2 doubles with partner Jonathan Degtyaryov, winning 6-1 over the team from Lawrence Tech on Friday. The junior was on his way to a 4-0 weekend against Lewis, as Conrad and Degtyaryov were up 5-4 over their opponents, but the match ended up unfinished as Lewis had already won at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles to clinch the point.
It's a great start for Conrad, who battled injuries in the fall portion of the schedule and wasn't able to play to his potential. Now fully healthy, the junior is back to the form that saw him earn first team All-G-MAC honors in the 2020-21 campaign while helping the Chargers win a G-MAC crown.
Next up for Hillsdale are two tough regional matches at home this weekend, as the Chargers host Grand Valley State on Saturday at 10 a.m. and Purdue Northwest on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Photo by Isabella Sheehan