NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State men's tennis team earned two Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) weekly recognitions on Friday afternoon, a strong start to the season for the Spartans.
 
NSU sophomore Vladisav Gorbatenko was named MEAC Player of the Week, while Deniz Okyay earned MEAC Rookie of the Week honors. The recognitions come after both players picked up singles victories against Temple.
 
Gorbatenko defeated Temple's Martim Marujo 6-4, 4-6, 1-0 at the top singles position, his first day competing in a Spartan uniform. The Nicholls State transfer won the third set tiebreak 10-7 to clinch the victory.
 
Okyay took down Temple's Aayush Bhat by a score of 6-3, 6-3 at the No. 5 slot. It marked the first dual match win of the freshman's career.
 
Norfolk State returns to action on Wednesday at 12 p.m., facing crosstown rival Old Dominion at the Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center.
 
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