SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – A pair of North Dakota tennis student-athletes were honored by the Summit League on Thursday morning, as announced by the office. Senior transfer Nikita Snezhko earned the Summit League Men’s Tennis Newcomer of the Year award while sophomore Sapir Sela joined Snezhko on the All-Summit League Team.
“We are exceptionally proud of these accomplishments by Sapir and Nikita and for the recognition they bring to our tennis program,” said UND head coach Tom Boysen. “These awards are a true reflection of the entire team’s hard work, dedication and results. They would not be possible without the collective efforts of every member of the team and coaching staff. Congrats to both of these outstanding student-athletes on winning these awards.”
Snezhko joined the Fighting Hawks this season following three years at Iowa, making an immediate impact for the green and white. The senior paced the team with 14 victories during singles play, winning six at the No. 4 position and eight on the fifth court. The Plymouth, Minn., native suffered only five defeats all season in singles action, rolling to a 4-1 record in league play. He also went 13-5 on the doubles courts, playing the top pairing with teammate Gerhard Sullwald.
“In only nine months at UND, Nikita has established himself as a leader on-and-off the court for our men’s team,” said Boysen. “This spring, his singles and doubles results have been terrific, but more that, I’ve been so impressed with his composure and tenacity at crucial points of his matches. He has come through in several big moments for the team in our signature team victories this year.”
This marks the second winner of this award for North Dakota on the men’s side, as this year’s team becomes the first to make back-to-back postseason appearances in the Division I era of the program.
Sela followed up her sparkling freshman season in 2021 with no signs of a sophomore slump, once again leading the team with 14 singles victories on the top court. The Boca Raton, Fla., native picked up four of her victories during conference play, including big wins over Oral Roberts, Kansas City and Omaha. She teamed up with Andrea Jansson at the top spot in doubles play to post a 13-6 record to pace the squad.
“Sapir has been an integral part of the success the women’s team has had during her first two years at UND, both in singles and doubles,” said Boysen. “Adding another All-Summit League Team selection in 2022 to the same award she won last year, in addition to being the newcomer of the year last season, reflects the consistency of high-level tennis that Sapir brings to the table for UND.”
In the three years that the Summit League has awarded postseason awards since North Dakota joined the league, excluding 2020, Sela becomes the seventh Fighting Hawk to earn a spot on the all-league team for women’s tennis.
North Dakota’s men will open postseason play tomorrow evening against the No. 2 seed Drake at 6 p.m. from Omaha in the Summit League Tennis Championships Semifinal.
*Alec Stocker Johnson, UND Athletics
