FAIRFAX, Va. - George Mason University men's tennis junior Edward Ayers has been named the Atlantic 10 Player of the Week for the first time in his career, the league office announced Tuesday.

Ayers shares the award this week with Finn Kemper of Fordham.

Ayers posted a 2-0 singles record and went 3-1 overall in a 2-0 weekend for the Patriots. He proved monumental in the program's first ever victory over Dayton on Saturday. The 2018 All-Atlantic 10 Second Team selection provided the clinching point at No. 1 singles over 2018 A-10 Player of the Year Jordan Benjamin of UD. Benjamin had not dropped an A-10 match since 2016 and had only lost one A-10 match ever leading into Saturday's contest. Ayers lost the first set in a tiebreak, but rallied to win the second in a tiebreak. Then, in the third, Ayers took control with a 6-3 victory. It was the final match of the day with the contest tied at 3-3.

Then on Sunday vs. CNU, the San Antonio product won at No. 2 doubles (6-2) with partner Jakob Nielsen, then won in straight sets (6-4, 6-3) at No. 1 singles. He has now won three-straight singles matches.

Leading Mason at the top singles spot, Ayers is an impressive 8-5 in dual singles in 2018-19.

Ayers and the Patriots are back in action Friday with a 2 p.m. contest at La Salle.

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