Nebraska’s Calvin Mueller was named to the Men’s Tennis All-Big Ten First Team, the first Husker to do so since 2016. Mueller, a junior from Bruchkoebel, Germany, has had a dominant and decorated third season with the Big Red, tallying two Big Ten Player of the Week Awards, alongside his 26 season wins, which tie him for fifth in program records for most single-season wins. Senior Shunya Maruyama was also recognized in the conference honors, claiming a Big Ten Sportsmanship Award for NU.
Mueller started off the 2023-24 season by claiming the 2023 Big Ten Individual Singles Champion title in the fall. Then, in the regular spring season, the international business administration major racked up 16 more singles wins, to lead the Big Red in spring and season victories. The two-time Big Ten Player of the Week also concluded the regular season with a perfect 5-0 record against ranked conference opponents, with four straight-set wins.
Maruyama was also honored in the conference awards, claiming his second-consecutive Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. The senior captain has tallied 69 singles wins in his collegiate career, all with the Big Red. His numerous victories notch the psychology major tied for No. 8 in program records for career wins.
Mueller becomes only the fourth Nebraska men’s tennis player to be named to an All-Big Ten Team, the most recent being three-time honoree Dusty Boyer for his 2014-15-16 seasons. Prior to Boyer’s recognition eight years ago, Chris Aumueller and Benedikt Lindheim were selected for All-Big Ten conference in 2012.
Mueller, Maruyama and the Big Red begin postseason play at the Big Ten Tournament, hosted by Northwestern. The Huskers hold the No. 5 seed and will face No. 4 Illinois in the quarterfinals on Friday, April 26. First serve is set for 11 a.m. (CT), and live stats and stream will be available, as well as updates on Twitter/X @HuskerMTennis.
2023-24 Big Ten Men’s Tennis Awards
Player of the Year: Ozan Baris, So., Michigan State
Freshman of the Year: Aristotelis Thanos, Fr., Michigan State
Coach of the Year: Ty Tucker, Ohio State
All-Big Ten First Team:
Hunter Heck, Sr., Illinois
Karlis Ozolins, Jr., Illinois
Sam Landau, So., Indiana
Gavin Young, Sr., Michigan
Ozan Baris, So., Michigan State
Aristotelis Thanos, Fr., Michigan State
Calvin Mueller, Jr., Nebraska
Jack Anthrop, So., Ohio State
Justin Boulais, 5th, Ohio State
Cannon Kingsley, 5th, Ohio State
JJ Tracy, Sr., Ohio State
Miko Eala, Sr., Penn State
All-Big Ten Second Team:
Kenta Miyoshi, So., Illinois
Ronald Hohmann, Gr., Michigan State
Presley Thieneman, Sr., Northwestern
Alexander Bernard, So., Ohio State
Robert Cash, 5th., Ohio State
Stefan Simeunovic, Fr., Purdue
Big Ten Sportsmanship Awards:
Mathis Debru, Jr., Illinois
Jagger Saylor, Sr., Indiana
Mert Oral, So., Michigan
Reed Crocker, Sr., Michigan State
Shunya Maruyama, Sr., Nebraska
Gleb Blekher, Sr., Northwestern
Reece Takubov, So., Ohio State
Miko Eala, Sr., Penn State
Henrick Villanger, Fr., Purdue
Michael Minasyan, So., Wisconsin