Grand Rapids Reporter

Ferris State University men's tennis player Esunge Ndumbe has been awarded the 2024 Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Most Improved Player Award. The ITA announced the national level awards on Tuesday.

Ndumbe, a sophomore from Keller, Texas, played a key role in leading the Bulldogs to the 2024 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Championship. Prior to this national recognition, he received two major regional awards: the ITA Midwest Region Most Improved Player Award and the ITA Midwest Region Player to Watch.

The ITA annually honors coaches and players for their performance on court and within their communities throughout the season. Ndumbe was selected as the national winner of the Most Improved Player Award from among eight regional award recipients.

"I couldn't be more proud and happy for Esunge," said FSU head coach Mark Doren. "From the day Esunge stepped on campus, we knew he was going to make it a point to outwork everyone on and off the court. His commitment to improving was contagious with his teammates."

Doren further praised Ndumbe's coachability and noted that trust from coaches and teammates contributed significantly to both his individual success and that of the team during a strong season.

In Division II Playing Awards, other categories include Wilson ITA Coach of the Year, ITA Assistant Coach of the Year, Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship, among others.

This season saw Ndumbe advance to number one in singles play for Ferris State with an overall record of 20-7. He achieved a 5-1 record in conference regular-season play at this position. In doubles competition with teammate Alessandro Santangelo, he finished with a 13-8 overall record and held a 4-2 conference mark at number two in regular-season action. Nationally, Ndumbe ranked 20th in singles and 40th in doubles according to recent ITA rankings.

He earned All-GLIAC First Team honors as part of a team that ended with a 17-5 overall record under Coach Doren's leadership. The Bulldogs captured both GLIAC's regular season and tournament championships while securing their ninth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance—marking their 27th all-time appearance.