CHARLOTTE, N.C. (ACC/SMU) — SMU Men's Tennis senior Jerry Barton has been named Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Week, as announced by the conference on Tuesday.
 
Barton defeated No. 34 Bryan Hernandez 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 in the Mustangs' tight 5-2 loss to No. 7 Mississippi State in their season opener.

This award is Barton's first career weekly honors and the program's first ACC Player of the Week award since joining the league last season. 
 
SMU split its season opener doubleheader with a 6-1 win over Lamar following its 5-2 loss to Mississippi State. Barton was 1-0 in singles and 1-1 in doubles play in the doubleheader, winning his doubles match with Vikas Deo against Lamar's Vicente Monge and Rintaro Shukuda (6-1).

Against the No. 7-ranked Bulldogs, the Mustangs fell 2-1 in doubles play to drop the first point of the day, but came back to win two singles matches while forcing three-set contests in the remaining four singles matches. It was the Mustangs' first ranked season opener match since 2016.
 
What's Next?
Barton and the SMU men's tennis team will host Wisconsin at Styslinger/Altec Tennis Complex at noon on Saturday.