Charleston, S.C. ?The Southern Conference announced today the 2008 Men’s and Women’s All-Conference selections as well as the player of the year, freshmen of the year, coach of the year and sportsmanship award from Charleston, S.C., the site of the 2008 men’s and women’s championship. The All-Conference selections were selected by the leagues' coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own players.
Andy Juc of Furman was named the Men’s Tennis Player of the Year. The junior from Chisinau, Moldova, had a 15-7 overall record and was a perfect 9-0 in conference action at No. 1 singles. Juc was 10-4 overall at doubles with his partner Chris Motes and was 4-2 at No. 1 doubles and 6-2 at No. 2 doubles. Juc defeated Mathieu Thibaudeau from Alabama, who was ranked 100th by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association in singles. He was SoCon Player of the Month in March and helped lead Furman to a 9-0 conference record and the number one seed in the conference tournament.
Alejandra Guerra of UNC Greensboro was named the Women’s Tennis Player of the Year. A junior from Tampico, Mexico, Guerra had a 17-2 overall record and a flawless 9-0 record in conference action at No. 1 singles. Guerra was the March SoCon Player of the Month as well as the Player of the Week for April 1. She has won 16 straight matches leading into the conference tournament. Guerra and teammate Arielle Vonstrolley are 12-4 overall and 7-2 in conference at No.1 doubles.
Furman swept the Coach of the Year awards with Debbie Southern winning the women’s and Paul Scarpa winning the men’s. Southern led Furman to a 16-5 overall record, a 9-0 conference record and their 10th consecutive regular season championship. This is Southern’s sixth straight Coach of the Year award. Scarpa led the men’s tennis team to a 13-10 overall record, a perfect 9-0 in conference action and the regular season title.
Monica Arguello of Furman earned the Freshmen of the Year award. Arguello had a 17-4 overall record and a 9-0 conference record at No. 2 singles and was 10-6 at No. 2 doubles with teammate Lauren Osborne. The Lakeland, Fla., native is on a five-match winning streak and was the April 15 league Player of the Week. Arguello defeated Anamika Bhargava of Pepperdine, who was ranked No. 34 by Intercollegiate Tennis Association, in three sets.
Oscar Podlewski of Elon was tabbed the Men’s Freshmen of the Year by the league’s coaches. Podlewski had a 16-9 overall record and 6-3 record in conference matches at No. 1 and No. 2 singles. Podlewski was the Player of the Month in February and helped lead Elon to a No. 2 seed in the league tournament.
The leagues’ coaches voted Meredith Skeeters of Davidson as the Sportsmanship Award winner. Skeeters was 14-3 overall and 6-2 in conference matches. The senior from Greensboro, N.C., was 5-1 at No. 5 singles, 7-2 at No. 6 singles, 1-0 at No. 3 singles and 1-0 at No. 4 singles. Skeeter went undefeated at doubles with a perfect 5-0 record.
Bo Ladyman of Furman won the Don Bunch/Buddy Hartsell Sportsmanship Award. Ladyman, a senior from Memphis, Tenn. had an 11-9 overall record and 7-2 record in conference matches at No. 2 singles. Ladyman and Jordan Walters were 7-0 in doubles action at both No. 1 and No. 2. Ladyman was also the April 8 SoCon Player of the Week.
Men’s Awards
Player of the Year ? Andy Juc, Furman
Freshman of the Year ? Oscar Podlewski, Elon
Coach of the Year ? Paul Scarpa, Furman
Women’s Awards
Player of the Year ? Alejandra Guerra, UNC Greensboro
Freshman of the Year ? Monica Arguello, Furman
Coach of the Year ? Debbie Southern, Furman
Women’s First Team All-Conference
Singles
Kelsey Linville, Davidson
Deanna Bailey, Elon
Laura Gioia, Furman
Monica Arguello, Furman
Alejandra Guerra, UNC Greensboro
Anna Milian, Elon
Doubles
Deanna Bailey/Anna Milian, Elon
Laura Gioia/Natasa Manojlovic, Furman
Alejandra Guerra/ Arielle Vonstrolley, UNC Greensboro
Second Team All-Conference (by position)
#1- Tessie Salame, Western Carolina
#2- Virginia Berry, Davidson
#3- Lauren Osborne, Furman
#4- Jessica Preeg, Furman
#5- Anna Lee Evans, College of Charleston
#6- Natasa Manojlovic, Furman
#1D- Laura Borza/Link Leskosky, College of Charleston
#2D- Monica Arguello/Lauren Osborne, Furman
#3D- Chelsea Albertz/Anna Lee Evans, College of Charleston
Men’s First Team All-Conference
Singles
Omer Abramovich, College of Charleston
Daniel Dossetor, The Citadel
Flaviu Simihaian, Davidson
Damon Gooch, Elon
Andy Juc, Furman
Andrew Stubbs, Wofford
Doubles
Omer Abramovich/Steven Myers, College of Charleston
Damon Gooch /Philip Nemec, Elon
Bo Ladyman/Jordan Walters, Furman
Second Team All-Conference (by position)
Singles
#1- Emmanuel Nkoueleue, Georgia Southern
#2- Badr Bouabdellah, Chattanooga
#3- Daniel Knause, Furman
#4- Chris Motes, Furman
#5- Jordan Walters, Furman
#6- Scott Myers, Davidson
Doubles
#1D- Emmanuel Nkoueleue/Borja Malet, Georgia Southern
#2D- Alberto Rojas/Mason Schermerhorn, Elon
#2D- Daniel Dossetor/Yufo Sutantio, The Citadel
#3D- Gregory Bekkers/Philip Prins, Georgia Southern