WEST WINDSOR, NJ (Apr. 19, 2024) – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) has announced the 2024 Men’s Tennis postseason Major Award winners and All-MAAC Teams, voted on by the league’s seven head coaches.
Quinnipiac University’s Daniel Velek headlined major award winners as the unanimous 2024 MAAC Player of the Year. Hailing from Sezimovo Usti, Czech Republic, Velek went a perfect 6-0 at #1 singles in MAAC play, while winning 14 total matches during the spring season for the Bobcats at the top singles flight. With teammate Shaurya Sood at #1 doubles, he went 4-1 in MAAC matches. Velek was the lone unanimous choice to the All-MAAC First Team, earning a spot at #1 singles, while also making the first team at #1 doubles with Sood. On April 10, he was crowned MAAC Player of the Week following a 3-0 week – two wins at singles, one win at doubles – to lead all athletes.
Oscar Martinez was named as the 2024 MAAC Rookie of the Year. In his first season with the Saints, the freshman from La Guaira, Venezuela compiled an impressive 18-7 overall record in singles play, including a 5-1 mark in the MAAC. In doubles action, he went 12-10 overall and ran a record of 3-0 in the MAAC including a 9-2 overall tally with partner Dylan Breen at the #2 doubles position. Martinez snagged a pair of All-MAAC Second Team honors following 2024, making the team at #1 singles and #2 doubles. Additionally, he was awarded MAAC Player of the Week accolades a conference-leading three-times this season, winning the awards on February 28, March 20, and April 17.
Voted 2024 MAAC Coach of the Year amongst his peers, was Rider University coach Thomas Battaglia. Battaglia, who took over the Broncs program in 2021, led Rider to its best finish in its MAAC era and a MAAC Championship berth in 2024. Under his lead this season, Rider clinched its first-ever berth in the current four-team format of the MAAC Championships, dating back to 2011, with its 3-3 league finish, going 3-3 in the MAAC for the second-straight season after a winless mark in 2022. The top four finish in the MAAC is the Broncs' highest in 27 years in the league, with fifth-place being their previous highest finish ever.
The full list of major awards winners and All-MAAC Teams are below.
| 2024 Men’s Tennis Major Awards |
| Awards |
Player |
School |
| Player of the Year |
Daniel Velek* |
Quinnipiac |
| Rookie of the Year |
Oscar Martinez |
Siena |
| Coach of the Year |
Thomas Battaglia |
Rider |
| All-MAAC First Team |
| Player |
Class |
Position |
School |
| Daniel Velek* |
Gr. |
#1 Singles |
Quinnipiac |
| Sam Hodges |
Jr. |
#2 Singles |
Fairfield |
| Alex Thompson |
So. |
#3 Singles |
Marist |
| Carlos Braun Simo |
1Y. |
#4 Singles |
Quinnipiac |
| Kostas Kollias |
So. |
#5 Singles |
Fairfield |
| Tomas Gomez |
Jr. |
#6 Singles |
Marist |
| Sam Hodges/Thomas Smart |
Jr./Gr. |
#1 Doubles |
Fairfield |
| Shaurya Sood/Daniel Velek |
Sr./Gr. |
#1 Doubles |
Quinnipiac |
| Nick Condos/William O'Brien |
Gr./Jr. |
#2 Doubles |
Fairfield |
| Kostas Kollias/Luca Benaibbouche |
So./Fr. |
#3 Doubles |
Fairfield |
| All-MAAC Second Team |
| Player |
Class |
Position |
School |
| Oscar Martinez |
Fr. |
#1 Singles |
Siena |
| Jose Catala |
Fr. |
#2 Singles |
Marist |
| Nick Condos |
Gr. |
#3 Singles |
Fairfield |
| Maxwell Acri |
Jr. |
#4 Singles |
Siena |
| Nick Suhanitski |
So. |
#5 Singles |
Marist |
| Gurustat Makkar |
Jr. |
#5 Singles |
Niagara |
| Finn Burridge |
1Y. |
#5 Singles |
Quinnipiac |
| Griffin Schlesinger |
Gr. |
#6 Singles |
Fairfield |
| Donovan Brown |
Sr. |
#6 Singles |
Quinnipiac |
| Jarrett Karnibad/Filippos Zachiotis |
Gr./Jr. |
#1 Doubles |
Mount St. Mary's |
| Oscar Martinez/Dylan Breen |
Fr./Fr. |
#2 Doubles |
Siena |
| Donovan Brown/Ayato Arakaki |
Sr./Sr. |
#3 Doubles |
Quinnipiac |
| Maxwell Acri/Andrea Moro |
Jr./Gr. |
#3 Doubles |
Siena |
*Denote Unanimous Selection
The 2024 MAAC Men's & Women's Tennis Championships will take place on April 20-21 at Mercer County Park Tennis Center in West Windsor, NJ. The 2024 Championships will be the 12
th consecutive time the event is held at Mercer County Park Tennis Center dating back to the 2012 MAAC Men's & Women's Tennis Championships. For all information regarding the 2024 MAAC Men's & Women’s Tennis Championships, please visit
maacsports.com/tennis.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 43rd year of competition during the 2023-24 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius University, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan College, Marist College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College. Merrimack College and Sacred Heart University will join the MAAC as full members in the 2024-25 academic year, expanding the conference to 13 institutions.
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