By Jed Flemming, Athletic Communications and Media Intern
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Aleksandra Grela of Keiser (Fla.) has been named the NAIA National Women's Tennis Player of the Week, the national office announced Wednesday. Grela was selected based on her performances from March 21-27 and was chosen out of a pool of conference, Association of Independent Institutions and unaffiliated group winners.
National Tennis Player of the Week
Aleksandra Grela, Keiser (Fla.)
So., Brussels, Belgium
• Grela helped lead the Seahawks to upset the two-time reigning champion and then-No. 1 Georgia Gwinnett Grizzlies with a No. 2 doubles win, 8-6, and a No. 4 singles win, 6-4, 6-4
• The upset helped push Keiser to their first ever No. 1 ranking in program history
• Grela also helped take down NCAA Divison I opponent Towson University (Md.) to push the Seahawks to a program record 17 wins this season
• Grela is perfect in singles this season with an 18-0 record and is 15-1 in doubles
For complete Player of the Week calendar, click here
Nominees: Nahir Montoya, Lindenwood-Belleville (Ill.) ; Madison Umbaugh, SCAD Atlanta (Ga.) ; Abigail Allen, Milligan (Tenn.) ; Alexandra Cuello, Reinhardt (Ga.) ; Patricia Recalde Pacua, Brenau (Ga.) ; Kaylynn Gruber, Holy Cross (Ind.) ; Sofia Scholl, St. Francis (Ill.) ; Maria Lueken, Marian (Ind.) ; Taylor Freedline, Bethel (Ind.) ; Abby Fitzgerald, Morningside (Iowa) ; Makayla Rice, Doane (Neb.) ; Charlene Goreau , Xavier (La.) ; Reevaw Lewis, Missouri Valley ; Jessica Emoto, Tabor (Kan.) ; Besa Bwalya, McPherson (Kan.) ; Tomomi Nagao, Cumberlands (Ky.) ; Kaede Amano, Campbellsville (Ky.) ; Joana Bou, Cumberland (Tenn.) ; Macha Mourier, LSU Shreveport (La.) ; Morgan Jackson, Indiana East (Ind.) ; Tamerra Horton, Indiana Southeast (Ind.) ; Mae Covacevich, Texas Wesleyan ; Meredith Murphy, Blue Mountain (Miss.) ; Franziska Nobis, Middle Georgia State ; Emily Chang, Mobile (Ala.) ; Valerie Droop, SCAD Savannah (Ga.) ; Isabelle Niehoff, Webber International (Fla.) ; Samantha Sepe, Coastal Georgia ; Maria Jimenez, Indiana Tech ; Kayla Verhelle , Concordia (Mich.)
2017-18 Women's Tennis Composite Award Winners
Week 1 (March 21): Ljiljana Pajcin, Union (Ky.)
Week 2 (March 28): Aleksandra Grela, Keiser (Fla.)
