Petro Kuzmenok Named 2025 Sammy Giammalva Award Winner
6/30/2025 11:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
HOUSTON — Rice men's tennis student-athlete Petro Kuzmenok has earned the 2025 Sammy Giammalva Award, earning the team MVP award after a strong 2024-25 season.
Kuzmenok was named to both the AAC All-Conference Singles and Doubles teams after a breakout sophomore season. He finished the year with a 21-11 singles and 21-6 doubles record, including marks of 13-7 and 16-3 in duals matches. Kuzmenok had the clincher against LSU at the No. 1 position on Feb. 7. He won six-straight singles matches between Feb. 7 (LSU) and March 8 (Abilene Christian), and went unbeaten in seven of his final eight singles matches of the season, including a stretch of going undefeated in singles during the AAC Tournament. He also did not lose a doubles match with partner Santiago Navarro after March 18.
The Giammalva Award is named after former men's tennis coach Sam Giammalva (1959-72) who twice led Rice to a second-place finish at the NCAA Championship (1968 & 1970), inaugurated the annual Rice Invitational and spearheaded the construction of the Jake Hess Tennis Stadium, the home of Rice Tennis from 1971-2014.
Players Mentioned
