Mendoza, Puig Molina Selected as NAIA All-Americans

By Mike DeVader, Reinhardt Director of Athletic Communications & Media

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The standard for Eagle men's tennis continues to rise, and thanks to Martin Mendoza and Jordi Puig Molina, more history was made for Reinhardt on the courts as the duo was named to the NAIA All-America list.

Mendoza, a senior from Tucuman, Argentina, is a First Team NAIA All-American for the second-consecutive season – marking the initial occasion in program history a student-athlete earned such accolades on the First Team.

A native of Barcelona, Spain, Puig Molina was named an NAIA Honorable Mention All-American for his play in 2021 as well.

It's also just the second time in school history that two players were named NAIA All-Americans in the same year (Fabio Pereira and Emory Deloach in 2017).

Honorees were selected by the NAIA All-America Selection Committee, and 16 student-athletes make up both the first and second teams.

To view the entire release from the NAIA, please click here.

The aforementioned pair helped the hometown club to a 10-4 mark on the year and another appearance in the NAIA Men's Tennis National Championship in Mobile, Ala.

In the triumph over the Hawks, Artem Vasheshnikova and Mendoza defeated the NAIA's No. 1 doubles tandem on the men's side (Chris Papa/Ivan Smith), 6-4, to set the tone for the afternoon.

Reinhardt had a bye in the first round and then beat No. 12 San Diego Christian (Calif.), 4-0, last Wednesday at the Mobile Tennis Center to advance to the quarterfinals once again. 

For up-to-the-minute Eagles sports news, follow Reinhardt Athletics on Facebook, @RU_Eagles on Twitter and @ru_eagles on Instagram. 

For more information on Reinhardt Men's Tennis, please click here.