Ferris State Lands Three Major Midwest Region ITA Men's Tennis Awards

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's tennis squad, which has advanced to the 2026 NCAA Division II Sweet Sixteen, had three individual award recipients chosen by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) as Midwest Region honorees.

Every year, the ITA recognizes coaches and players for their excellence on the court and in their communities throughout the season.

The Bulldogs' Kevin Kovacs was chosen as the ITA Midwest Region Senior Player of the Year while Jose Perez was tabbed as the ITA Midwest Region Most Improved Player Award recipient. Meanwhile, assistant coach Alessandro Santangelo was chosen as the Midwest Region Assistant Coach of the Year.

As regional award recipients, all three are now also under consideration for national honors from the ITA in their respective awards category.

Both Kovacs and Perez were previously tabbed as all-conference first team recipients this campaign with Kovacs also chosen as the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Player of the Year. Santangelo joined the Bulldog coaching staff following his own standout career at FSU and has played a key role in the teams' success this year under head coach Mark Doren.

Together, they have helped lead Ferris State to both the GLIAC Regular Season and Tournament Championships this year along with the Midwest Region title. The Bulldogs are presently 19-3 overall and ranked 19th in the country by the ITA.

Ferris State will square off against Washburn (Kan.) in the NCAA D2 Sweet Sixteen next Wednesday, May 20, at 3 p.m. (ET) in Surprise, Ariz.