Velek Named MAAC Player of the Year
EDISON, NJ – Quinnipiac Men's Tennis graduate student Daniel Velek has been named 2024 MAAC Men's Tennis Player of the Year, as announced by the conference office on Friday, April 19, 2024.
The Bobcats finished with 7 All-MAAC awards in total. In addition to being the league's Player of the Year Velek was also named First Team All-MAAC at No. 1 singles, Carlos Braun Simo finished First Team at No. 4 singles, Finn Burridge was tabbed Second Team at No. 5 singles, and Donovan Brown made the Second Team at No. 6 singles, Shaurya Sood/Daniel Velek made the All-League First Team at No. 1 doubles, then Donovan Brown/Ayato Arakaki made the Secod Team at No. 2 doubles.
Daniel Velek – MAAC Player of the Year & First Team at #1 Singles: Velek recorded a perfect 6-0 singles record in MAAC play from the No. 1 position during the spring 2024 campaign. He defeated Marist's Theony in three sets, beat Siena's Martinez in straight sets, downed Mignot of MSM in straight sets, bested Griscti of Rider in three sets, defeated Bedard of Niagara 6-4, 6-4, then downed Fairfield's Smart from the top spot in the regular season finale. 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.
Carlos Braun Simo – First Team at #4 Singles: Braun Simo finished with a 5-0 record in league action from the No. 4 singles position. He recorded one DNF vs. Marist.
Finn Burridge – Second Team at #5 Singles: Burridge posted a 3-3 overall mark in league play from the No. 5 singles spot.
Donovan Brown – Second Team at #6 Singles: Brown went 3-0 at No. 6 singles this year for the Bobcats in MAAC play during the regular season.
Shaurya Sood/Daniel Velek – First Team at #1 Doubles: The duo posted a 5-1 record at No. 1 doubles during league regular season action.
Donovan Brown/Ayato Arakaki – Second Team at #3 Doubles: Brown and Arakaki went 5-1 together from the No. 3 doubles position during conference play.
The Bobcats posted a 12-10 overall record during 2023-24, going 5-1 in MAAC play to earn the second seed in the upcoming MAAC Tournament. It marks QU's most league wins since 2017-18, when the program went 6-1 in league play.
No. 2 Quinnipiac will square off with No. 3 Marist in the league semifinals on Saturday, April 20 at Mercer County Tennis Center in New Jersey at 2:00 PM.
