CLEVELAND – Redshirt freshman Kristopher Ortega (Homer Glen, Ill./Seton Home Study School) of the Northern Illinois University men's tennis team was named the Mid-American Conference Singles Player of the Week, the league office announced on Wednesday. 

Playing at number one, Ortega earned victories in both of his matches to help the Huskies open league play with wins over Binghamton and Ball State. The Homer Glen, Ill., native topped Tiago Lourenco of Binghamton in three sets, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, on the conference opener on Friday, March 16, as the Huskies downed the Bearcats, 6-1. He then recorded a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Nemanja Guzina of Ball State on Sunday, March 18, to help the Huskies to a 5-2 win over the Cardinals. 

With the weekend sweep, Ortega improved to 18-9 overall this season, including 11-4 in dual matches. The Huskie freshman has won four consecutive decisions and is 5-1 since moving to the top spot in the NIU lineup in mid-February. 

The weekly honor is the first for Ortega in his career and the second for the Huskies this season, senior Georg Lundkvist (Linkoping, Sweden/Lindkopings Kommun) was named MAC Player of the Week on February 7. 

Ortega and the Huskies will take their 12-5 record, 2-0 in the MAC, on the road on Friday, March 23, when they visit Western Michigan.