KANSAS CITY, Missouri – For the fifth time in his career and second time this season, Ouachita senior men's tennis player Phil Exner has been selected as the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association/Great American Conference South Division Athlete of the Week.
Exner was a combined 6-0 in doubles and singles over the past week as the Tigers went 2-1, including a win over an NCAA Division I team and a MIAA/GAC victory.
The Konstanz, Germany native started with a pair of victories in a 7-0 road win over The Citadel. He and teammate Ramon Strassmann, ranked fifth in the nation in doubles, cruised to a 6-1 win over their counterparts at No. 1 doubles. At No. 1 singles, Exner, ranked No. 2 nationally, earned a two-set win with a pair of 6-4 scores.
The next day, Exner and the Tigers fell to Wofford by a final score of 5-2, but Exner was victorious in both of his matchups. He and Strassmann earned a 6-2 win at No. 1 doubles, followed by a two-set win at No. 1 singles, both ending up being 6-3.
This past Monday on Senior Day, Exner and the Tigers held on to beat Southeastern Oklahoma State in conference action by a score of 4-3. He and Strassmann took down their Savage Storm counterparts at No. 1 doubles by a score of 6-3, followed by a 6-3, 6-4 win for Exner at No. 1 singles.
Overall this season, Exner is 28-5 in singles, including a 12-3 mark at No. 1 this spring. In doubles, he and Strassmann are 27-7 overall and 11-5 at No. 1 this spring.
Exner and the Tigers are back in action Thursday and Friday on the road in Missouri for non-conference matchups against Northwest Missouri State and William Jewell.