ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Drake men's tennis junior Ben Mullis (Leicestershire, England) and Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir of Indiana State have been selected Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athletes of the Week, Commissioner Doug Elgin announced on Wednesday (March 12). Mullis and Abdul-Qaadir were honored for their performances during the period of March 3-9.

Now in its 15th year of existence, The Valley's Scholar-Athlete program honors its student-athletes for their athletic performance for a one-week period and academic success in the classroom.

Mullis, who maintains a 3.5 grade-point average in law, politics and society, registered a 4-0 combined singles/doubles ledger to lead the Bulldogs to a pair of road victories in Lincoln, Neb., over Utah and No. 44 Nebraska last weekend.

In Drake's 7-0 win over Utah last Saturday (March 8), he paired with junior Alen Salibasic (Tuzla, Bosnia & Herzegovina) to clinch the doubles point with an 8-7 (5) decision at the No. 2 slot, before capturing a 6-4, 3-6, 10-4 victory at No. 6 singles. The Utes have been nationally ranked this season and had beaten No. 44 Nebraska, 4-3, the evening before.

In the Bulldogs' 4-0 triumph past the Huskers on Sunday (March 9), Mullis clinched the deciding singles and doubles points, respectively. In doubles, he teamed with Salibasic to garner an 8-7 (4) victory at the No. 2 doubles spot. In singles, he recorded a 6-4, 6-3 decision at No. 6.

On the season, Mullis owns a 16-9 combined singles/doubles record, including six wins in both singles and doubles during the spring campaign,

To qualify for Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Week laurels, student-athletes must carry a cumulative grade-point average of 3.20, completed at least one academic year at a Valley institution and must be at least a sophomore in academic standing.

Redshirt freshmen and first-year junior college transfers are not eligible. In addition to the academic qualifications, student-athletes will be evaluated on their athletic performance for a one-week period.