SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- After a strong start to the season, North Dakota's Gerhard Sullwald and Jule Schulte claimed the year's first Summit League Men's and Women's Peak Performers of the Week accolades, league officials announced on Tuesday.

Sullwald and the Fighting Hawks finished the opening weekend undefeated after beating Montana (4-3) and Montana State (5-2) on the road for the first time in program history. Sullwald teamed with Nikita Snezhko on the No. 1 doubles court and defeated the Grizzlies' George Russell and Gustav Theilgaard, 6-1. The Warmbad, South Africa native clinched the match with a three-set thriller (6-3, 3-6, 6-3) at the No. 1 spot.

Against the Bobcats, the duo of Sullwald and Snezhko captured a 6-4 win at the top doubles spot and stretched the lead to 2-0 in singles play with a 6-2, 6-0 victory in the 5-2 win to cap off a 4-0 weekend.

In the season-opening 4-3 win against Bellarmine, Schulte and Nore Heinitz teamed up for a 7-6 win at the No. 2 doubles spot to seal a 1-0 advantage. Against Lipscomb, the duo capped off a perfect weekend with another 7-6 triumph at the No. 2 court to give the Fighting Hawks a 1-0 cushion. The freshman recorded her first collegiate victory with a 6-2, 6-0 win at the No. 5 spot.

Men's Peak Performer of the Week

Gerhard Sullwald, North Dakota
Sr. | Warmbad, South Africa

• Garnered second career peak performer award of his career
• Went a perfect 4-0 in both singles and doubles at the No. 1 spot
• Helped the Fighting Hawks finish 2-0 against Montana and Montana State
   

Women's Peak Performer of the Week

Jule Schulte, North Dakota
Fr. | Germany

• Earned the first career peak performer accolade of her career
• Went 2-0 at the No. 2 doubles sport against Bellarmine and Lipscomb
• Recorded her first collegiate singles win with a 6-2, 6-0 triumph at the No. 5 spot against Lipscomb

  
2023 Peak Performers of the Week
January 17
M: Gerhard Sullwald, North Dakota
W: Jule Schulte, North Dakota