Men's Tennis Student-Athlete Earns Weekly Heart Award
Marshall, Mo., (March 30, 2026)- Two Missouri Valley College student-athletes have earned weekly awards from the Heart of America Athletic Conference for their performances in competition last week.
Junior Hannah Rieker (Munich, Germany) has been named the Heart Women's Golfer of the Week, after leading the Viking women's golf team at the CMU Spring Invite at Hail Ridge Golf Course in Boonville, Mo. Rieker finished with a two-round total of +14 (156) to finish as the highest placing NAIA golfer at the event, coming in at fourth place. Rieker led the Vikings to a third place finish at the event, the second-highest placing NAIA team in the tournament.
This is the second weekly award for Rieker so far this season (Oct. 6), and the fourth of her career. Rieker and the women's golf team are competing Monday and Tuesday at the William Woods (Mo.) Spring Invite at Tanglewood Golf Course in Fulton, Mo.
Also earning a weekly award was Senior Alexander Ballinger (Northampton, England), named the Heart Men's Tennis Player of the Week, presented by 516 Sports Capital. Ballinger led the Vikings to a 7-0 sweep of NCAA Division II William Jewell (Mo.), by winning his No. 1 Singles match, 6-3, 6-3. He also teamed up with Sophomore Guilherme Silva (Torres Novas, Portugal) to win their No. 1 Doubles match, 6-3.
This is the first weekly award for Ballinger in his career at Missouri Valley. The men's tennis team is 4-6 on the season. Up next, the team hosts No. 17 William Woods (Mo.) in matches, Thursday at 12 p.m., at Indian Foothills Park.
About Missouri Valley College
Standing out as one of the most innovative and student-focused liberal arts colleges in the Midwest, Missouri Valley College (MVC) is committed to preparing students for success beyond the classroom. Through the Viking Voyage program, MVC prioritizes career readiness from day one, equipping students with the knowledge and skills needed to excel after graduation. Each of MVC's 30+ in-demand majors—including nursing, business, cybersecurity, computer science, criminal justice, and exercise science—integrates personal instruction, experiential learning, and professional opportunities to prepare graduates to thrive in a rapidly changing and globally connected world. At Missouri Valley College, higher education is more than earning a degree—it's a transformative journey that begins with the end.