ST. PAUL, Minn. - Despite both teams going 0-2, the University of Northwestern Men's and Women's Tennis teams still have some good vibes coming out of their first weekend of competition in the 2026 season. Tuesday morning, the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference released its first Athlete of the Week award winners for the spring tennis season, and both winners hail from Northwestern. Carson Haack (Elk River, Minn./Elk River) won on the men's side, while Rein Hayashi (Kyoto, Japan/Kansai Christian School) took home the women's honor.

The full UMAC press release can be accessed here.

Haack's award is the second of his successful career in purple. The 2024 UMAC North Division Rookie of the Year went 3-1 across two matches on Saturday, including teaming up with Sam Majerus (River Falls, Wis./River Falls) to win both No. 1 doubles matches (7-6 (4-5) and 6-4). The Elk River native also won his No. 1 singles match against UW-Stevens Point in a tiebreak (6-4, 1-6, 10-4).

Hayashi's 3-1 weekend highlighted an impressive collegiate debut for the freshman, including a 2-0 showing in the season opener against Concordia Wisconsin. The Kyoto, Japan native won her No. 2 singles match 6-2, 6-2 and teamed up with Sarah Langridge (Savage, Minn./Prior Lake) for a 6-2 No. 1 doubles victory. Against UW-Stevens Point in the nightcap, the rookie again won at No. 2 singles, this time in comeback fashion (5-7, 6-1, 10-7).

The UNW Tennis teams will be back in action for two more matches Saturday, February 7th in Madison, Wisconsin.

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Northwestern's 2025-26 UMAC Athlete of the Week Honors (38)

Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week (1)
9/3: Tyler Dueber

Women's Golf Player of the Week (5)
9/3: Morgan Eckman
9/9: Paige Johnson (Zimmerman, Minn./Homeschool)
9/16: Morgan Eckman
9/23: Paige Johnson (Zimmerman, Minn./Homeschool)
9/30: Morgan Eckman

Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week (4)
9/3: Naomi Meehan
10/7: Marie Kendall
10/21: Haley Mersberger
11/4: Haley Mersberger

Volleyball Setter of the Week (8)
9/3: Addeson Jenniges
9/16: Addeson Jenniges
10/7: Addeson Jenniges
10/14: Addeson Jenniges
10/21: Addeson Jenniges
10/28: Addeson Jenniges
11/4: Addeson Jenniges
11/11: Addeson Jenniges

Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week (3)
9/3: Marley Aune
9/9: Marley Aune
11/11: Marley Aune

Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week (1)
9/9: Troy Johnson

Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week (3)
9/9: Marie Kendall
10/7: Mallory Moseman
11/4: Mallory Moseman

Men's Golf Player of the Week (3)
9/16: Jakob Swanson
9/23: Shane Seiffert
9/30: Jakob Swanson

Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week (1)
10/7: Emery Maki

Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week (2)
10/7: Ana Egge
10/21: Anja Jarchow

Football Defensive Player of the Week (2)
10/28: Jayden Goodwin
11/11: Austin Ahrendt

Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week (1)
11/4: Jay'ce Jones
 
Men's Basketball Player of the Week (1)
11/25: Japheth Nyamari

Women's Indoor Track Athlete of the Week (1)
1/27: Emery Maki

Men's Tennis North Division Player of the Week (1)
2/2: Carson Haack (Elk River, Minn./Elk River)

Women's Tennis North Division Player of the Week (1)
2/2: Rein Hayashi (Kyoto, Japan/Kansai Christian School)