ROCHESTER, N.Y. - For the second consecutive week, Norwich University men's tennis standout Keagan Bakke (Gun Barrel City, Texas) has been named the Empire 8 Co-Player of the Week, sharing the honor with Max Funiciello of Nazareth University, as announced by the league office on Monday afternoon.

Bakke played a pivotal role in Norwich's split results over the week, leading the Cadets to an 8-1 victory over Vermont State University Castleton before battling in a 5-4 thriller against Thomas College.  The senior captain went 3-1 across singles and doubles play, highlighted by a gritty, come-from-behind singles win over Thomas.

At No. 1 singles, Bakke dominated Castleton's Miki Almirall, 6-1, 6-1, helping Norwich snap a two-match skid against the Spartans.  Against Thomas College's Gabriel McPhail, Bakke bounced back from a first-set deficit (3-6, 6-1, 6-4) to secure a crucial singles victory.

In doubles, Bakke partnered with Gabe Wettig (Ballston Spa, N.Y.) at No. 2 doubles, delivering an 8-5 win against Castleton's Tanner Ciufo and Remy Maynard before falling to Thomas.

With this recognition, Bakke becomes the first Norwich men's tennis player to win multiple Player of the Week honors in a season since Jay Carter earned Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) plaudits twice in 2016.  He also stands as the first Cadet to earn back-to-back weekly awards since Dylan Ackerman collected five GNAC Rookie of the Week nods in 2017.

The Cadets, who are competing in their first season as associate members of the North Atlantic Conference (NAC), are also affiliate members of the Empire 8.  At 2-1 overall, Norwich holds the best record in the Empire 8 across both the East and West Divisions.

Norwich returns to action on Wednesday, Mar. 26, traveling to Topnotch Tennis Academy in Stowe, Vt., to take on Vermont State University Johnson, before returning home to Shapiro Fieldhouse on Saturday, Mar. 29, to host SUNY Delhi in their NAC opener at 1:00 p.m.