MT’s Van Schalkwyk Grabs Big 12 Player of the Week

[Pirtle, Colin]

BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – March 10, 2026

MT’s Van Schalkwyk Grabs Big 12 Player of the Week
Third Bear this season to earn a weekly honor
For more information contact: Josie Hutton; 254-709-7720, josie_hutton at baylor.edu<mailto:josie_hutton at baylor.edu>



IRVING, Texas – After successful matches against Rice and No. 1 Ohio State, No. 8 Baylor men’s tennis’ Connor Van Schalkwyk snagged Big 12 Player of the Week honors, the conference announced on Tuesday afternoon.



Ranked No. 27 nationally in singles, the junior from Windhoek went 3-0 to guide Baylor to two wins on the week, including upsetting No. 1 Ohio State at home.



To start out the week, Van Schalkwyk was clutch at No. 71 Rice, dominating on Court Two in doubles partnered with Luc Koenig, 6-1. Going into singles, the Owls put up a fight with the Bears, and the match came down to Court Three, tied 3-3. Van Schalkwyk didn’t let the pressure affect him, taking the second set in dominant fashion to earn a 7-5, 6-3 singles dub and clinch the match for the Bears, 4-3.



In singles against No. 1 Ohio State, Van Schalkwyk went up against No. 29 Okonkwo and dominated the Buckeye from start to finish, getting the first points on the board for the Bears with a 6-3, 6-1 win. With the help of Van Schalkwyk, the Bears went on to upset No. 1 Ohio State at home, earning their first win at home against a No. 1 opponent since 2011.





In doubles against OSU, Van Schalkwyk and Koenig went head-to-head with ranked doubles OSU duo Kim and Nakashima. Going into a tiebreaker, the match narrowly went unfinished before the Buckeyes won the doubles point.



WHAT’S NEXT

Baylor plays ACU on March 10 at 6 p.m. CT before going to Indian Wells to play in the UTR Collegiate Championship.



 - BaylorBears.com -

_________________________________________
Colin Pirtle | Associate Director of Athletics Communications (WBB, Soccer, W. Tennis)
Department of Athletics | Baylor University
C: 940-564-0351



[Image]<http://baylorbears.com/>




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