Illinois and USC Claim Men’s Tennis Weekly Awards

ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference has announced its men’s tennis weekly awards for matches played February 20-22, 2026.

Player of the Week
William Mroz, Illinois
Sr. – Bradenton, Fla. – Florida Virtual School

• Posted a 3-0 overall record, helping No. 36-ranked Illinois to a doubleheader sweep of North Carolina and UIC Sunday at the Atkins Tennis Center
• Defeated 87th-ranked Ian Mayew in straight sets (6-4, 6-4) at No. 3 singles to clinch match point for Illinois in a 4-1 win over North Carolina
• Extended singles win streak to six matches, improving to 8-1 for 2025-26
• Teamed with Kenta Miyoshi for a pair of doubles wins, dropping three games total, and securing the doubles point against UIC
• The All-Big Ten Second Team selection earns his first Player of the Week Award
• Becomes the third Illinois player this season to receive a Big Ten weekly honor

Freshman of the Week
Max Exsted, USC
Fr. – Savage, Minn. – Excel HS

• Helped No. 14-ranked USC to a 4-3 win over No. 22-ranked UCLA Saturday in a rematch of last year’s NCAA Super Regional showdown
• The win was the Trojans’ fourth against a top-25 team in the past month
• Joined forces with teammate Nathan Trouve to post a 6-4 win at No. 3 doubles, locking in the doubles point for the Trojans
• Gave USC a 3-2 match lead with a 6-3, 7-6 (3) win over Andy Nguyen at No. 4 singles
• Raised his overall record on the season to 14-3 (6-1 singles, 8-2 doubles)
• Receives his third Freshman of the Week Award this season, having previously been honored on January 14 and January 28

2025-26 Big Ten Men’s Tennis Player of the Week
Sept. 17       
P: Ozan Baris, Sr., MSU
F: Adam Jilly, Fr., ILL

Sept. 24       
P: Nikita Filin, So., OSU

Oct. 1          
P: Aidan Kim, Jr., OSU
F: Sam Olszakowski, ORE

Oct. 8          
P: Nicholas Steglehner, Sr., MICH
F: Arnav Bhandari, Fr., MICH

Oct. 15        
P: Sam Landau, Sr., IND
F: Jeri Lassila, Fr., NEB

Oct. 22        
P: Spencer Johnson, Jr., UCLA
F: Max Dahlin, R-Fr., MICH

Nov. 5         
P: David Saye, Sr., MSU

Nov. 12       
P: Jack Anthrop, Sr., OSU
F: Max Dahlin, R-Fr., MICH

Jan. 14         
P: Bjorn Swenson, Sr., MICH
F: Max Exsted, Fr., USC

Jan. 21         
P: Alex Okonkwo, Jr., OSU
F: Sasha Colleu, Fr., ILL

Jan. 28         
P: Alexander Bernard, Sr., OSU
F: Jeri Lassila, Fr., NEB
F: Max Exsted, Fr., USC

Feb. 4          
P: Nikita Filin, So., OSU
F: Cooper Han, Fr., NU

Feb. 11        
P: Max Dahlin, R-Fr., MICH
F: Max Dahlin, R-Fr., MICH

Feb. 18        
P: Jack Anthrop, Sr., OSU
F: Kyle Chesman, Fr., PSU

Feb. 25        
P: William Mroz, Sr., ILL
F: Max Exsted, Fr., USC