Azkara Named MW Player of the Year Again

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Arda Azkara became the first Mountain West tennis player to earn back-to-back Mountain West Player of the Year honors since Oliver Maiberger of SDSU from 2001-03 as the league announced its 2024 All-Mountain West team.

Azkara was also named First Team All-Mountain West for the third straight year, and he was named All-Mountain West in doubles with teammate Alex Maggs.  It marked the second straight year that Azkara and Maggs were named All-MW doubles, and the third time for Azkara.

Azkara’s back-to-back Mountain West Player of the Year awards marks the third time in the last four years that a Lobo has earned the honor.  Other Lobos to earn Mountain West Player of the Year honors include Raul Dobai (2021), Johnny Parkes (2009) and Divan Coetzee (2004).

All Azkara has done in 2024 is go 19-3 overall and 14-1 in the spring at No. 1 singles.  He continued his amazing streak as he won every home match he completed, moving him to a perfect 25-0 in his career at No. 1 singles at home over his three-year career.  Maggs, who is also 17-9 in singles, teammed with Arda to go 9-6 in doubles at No. 1.  Last year he became the first Lobo to earn CSC Academic All-American honors.

New Mexico, which entered the regular season finale against Boise State as one of three teams with a shot at the regular season title, finished the year at 13-9 overall and UNM is ranked No. 71 overall.  Boise State is the highest-ranked team at No. 57 and Utah State is ranked No. 61.  The Lobos open the Mountain West Tournament on Wednesday at 6 p.m. Mountain Time against No. 6 UNLV, which lost its last four matches.  UNM and UNLV didn’t play during the regular season after UNM’s match in Las Vegas was rained out.