Four Bulls Earn All-MAC Recognition, Nickell Named Coach of the Year

BUFFALO, NY – The Mid-American Conference announced its postseason men's tennis awards on Tuesday, and the 2026 MAC champion Bulls were well represented as senior Theodoros Mitsakos and junior Onder Balci were named to the All-MAC First Team and graduate student Clement Mainguy and junior Minjae Kim earned All-MAC Second Team recognition. Additionally, Lee Nickell was named Coach of the Year for the second straight year and fifth time overall in his time at UB.

Mitsakos earns postseason honors for the third straight year. He has had a stellar four-year career in which he has reached double-digit singles and doubles win totals for four straight seasons. He came up big once again at the MAC Tournament, putting a point on the board at first singles in the win over Ball State in the semifinals, before helping the Bulls earn a crucial doubles point in the championship match. Mitsakos and Mainguy were also named MAC Doubles Team of the Week a league-best four times. The Chalandri, Greece native ranks in the top 10 all-time with 64 singles wins and 59 career doubles victories.

Balci has made an immediate impact in his first season in the blue and white, recording 17 singles victories, primarily at the second and third positions, including a 7-3 mark in league play, while also contributing in doubles action with partner Michael Malkin.

Mainguy has more than earned the "Captain Clutch" moniker as he has come up big in countless moments across his two seasons in Buffalo. He earns postseason honors for the second straight season after being named the Most Outstanding Player at the MAC Tournament Championship, winning both of his matches, including the clinching point in the semifinals, and is now a perfect 4-0 in the MAC Tournament. He also served as the clinching point in the regular season finale at Toledo that secured UB's second straight regular season title and has been a force in doubles play as well, recording 14 wins with Mitsakos.

Kim has also been a mainstay in the heart of the UB lineup, recording 19 singles victories, good for second best on the team, including a 6-3 mark in league play, while also adding 12 doubles victories.

Nickell earns Coach of the Year honors for the second straight season after leading the Bulls to the regular season championship for the second straight season and back-to-back MAC Tournament titles for the first time in program history.

2026 MAC Men's Tennis All-MAC and Specialty Awards
Coach of the Year: Lee Nickell
Freshman of the Year: Andrei Caragea, Ball State
Player of the Year: Iker Gaztambide Arrastia, Northern Illinois
Jack Vredevelt Sportsmanship Award: Broc Fletcher, Ball State

All-MAC First Team
Iker Gaztambide Arrastia, Northern Illinois
Ashton Adesoro, Western Michigan
Nikola Puntaric, Northern Illinois
Hanamachi Carvajal, Toledo
Theodoros Mitsakos, Buffalo
Onder Balci, Buffalo

All-MAC Second Team
Jacks Lancaster, Ball State
Clement Mainguy, Buffalo
Andrei Caragea, Ball State
Oscar Corwin, Western Michigan
Minjae Kim, Buffalo
Eldin Nokic, UIC
Tim Riedel, Western Michigan

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Four Bulls Earn All-MAC Recognition, Nickell Named Coach of the Year

Players Mentioned

Onder Balci

Minjae Kim

Clement Mainguy

Michael Malkin

Theodoros Mitsakos