Michigan and Penn State Collect Men’s Tennis Weekly Honors

ROSEMONT, Ill. – Michigan junior Benjamin Kittay has been named Player of the Week and Penn State freshman Reiya Hattori chosen Freshman of the Week as the Big Ten Conference announced its weekly men’s tennis awards on Wednesday. The awards cover competitions that took place between Jan. 24-26.

Player of the Week
Benjamin Kittay, Michigan
Jr. – Potomac, Md. — Laurel Springs School

• Went undefeated on the week (4-0), helping No. 25 Michigan capture the Knoxville ITA Kickoff Weekend event with wins over Auburn and No. 14 Tennessee
• The victories qualified Michigan for the 2025 ITA National Team Indoor Championship
• Defeated No. 34 Alex Kotzen of Tennessee, 6-3, 6-4 at No. 1 singles on Sunday after downing Auburn’s Billy Blaydes in straight sets at No. 2 singles on Saturday
• Teamed with Patorn Hanchaikul to clinch the doubles point in back-to-back matches
• The NCAA Doubles finalist earns his first Big Ten Player of the Week award
• Last Michigan Player of the Week: Patorn Hanchaikul (Jan. 15, 2025)

Freshman of the Week
Reiya Hattori, Penn State
Fr. – Nagaokakyo, Japan

• Compiled a 7-1 overall record (4-0 singles, 3-1 doubles) as Penn State went 4-0 on the weekend
• Clinched match point in wins over Fordham, Quinnipiac and Bucknell
• Won all four singles matches in straight sets, competing at the No. 3 and No. 5 flights
• Playing alongside teammate Marcus Schoeman, dropped just three games in recording three doubles wins
• The former top-75 junior player improves to 12-2 overall on the season
• Last Penn State Award winner: Miko Eala (March 27, 2024)

2024-25 Big Ten Men’s Tennis Weekly Awards
Sept. 18
P: Kenta Miyoshi, Jr., ILL
Sept. 25 
P: Max Sheldon, Sr., MSU
Oct. 2
P: Aiden Kim, So., OSU
Oct. 9
P: Paris Pouatcha, Fr., ORE
Oct. 16 
P: Gavin Young, Sr., MICH | Ozan Baris, Jr., MSU
Oct. 23
P: Spencer Johnson, So., UCLA
Oct. 30  
P: Danial Rakhmatullayev, Fr., MSU
Nov. 6 
P: Preston Stearns, So., OSU
Nov. 13
P: Gavin Young, Sr., MICH
Jan. 15 
P: Patorn Hanchaikul, Sr., MICH
F: Edouard Aubert, Fr., WIS
Jan. 22 
P: Aristotelis Thanos, So., MSU
F: Rudy Quan, Fr., UCLA
Jan. 29
P: Benjamin Kittay, Jr., MICH
F: Reiya Hattori, Fr., PSU