SPARTANBURG, S.C. - UNCG senior Orcun Seyrek has been named the Southern Conference Men's Tennis Player of the Year as the league announced its postseason awards Tuesday (April 17). Elon's Stefan Fortmann was named the conference's Freshman of the Year while Appalachian State's Alain Humblet earned the league's Don Bunch/Buddy Hartsell Sportsmanship Award. College of Charleston's Jay Bruner was named Coach of the Year. Postseason balloting was conducted by the league's head coaches who were not allowed to vote for their own student-athletes.
Seyrek becomes just the fourth player in league history to earn the Player of the Year Award multiple times, as he was also named Player of the Year as a freshman in 2009. Seyrek went 10-0 in league play competing at No. 1 singles and was 16-5 overall this season. The Istanbul, Turkey native also garnered first team all-conference honors, marking the fourth straight year he has been named all-conference.
Bruner led the Cougars to at least a share of the conference's regular season championship for the third straight year. College of Charleston went 9-1 in conference matches and shared the regular season crown with Samford. The Cougars went 15-4 overall this spring and four of his Cougars earned postseason honors. It is the second time in three years Bruner has won the award, as he was named the league's top coach in 2010.
Fortmann was named the top freshman this season after posting a 15-6 mark at the No. 2 position for the Phoenix. The Wartburg, South Africa native went 8-2 in league matches for Elon and follows teammate Cameron Silverman who was named the league's top rookie last season. Fortmann moved up to No. 1 doubles with Silverman late in the season and the duo closed the season with a 5-0 mark.
Humblet, a senior from Montreal, Canada, went 15-6 this spring, including a 15-5 mark at No. 2 for the Mountaineers. He was 8-2 in singles play and paired with Alex Markov to go 15-2 at No. 2 doubles for Appalachian State.
College of Charleston's Mickael Trintignac was named first team all-conference for the second time in his career. He and Seyrek were joined by The Citadel's David Orces, Elon's Silverman, Furman's Andrew Mellow and Samford's Zac Dunkle.
Trintignac and Kyle Parker garnered first team all-conference honors in doubles play. UNCG's Ahmet Sarioglu and Seyrek and Elon's Silverman and Eric Turner were also named first team all-conference for doubles play.
Second team all-conference selections are made based on position. Chattanooga's Roberto Vieira earned the nod at No. 1 singles. Samford placed two on the second team as Elliot Barnwell (No. 3) and Alexander Sajonz (No. 5) garnered second-team honors. UNCG's Ahmet Sarioglu was tabbed for the No. 2 position, while College of Charleston's Crescente Lesser was chosen for the No. 4 spot. Appalachian State's Matt Saltsgaver earned the second team nod at No. 6
The Mountaineers' top two doubles units were chosen for second team honors with Sebastien King and Philip Kock at No. 1 and Alain Humblet and Alex Markov at No. 2. Samford's Carson Kadi and Fernando Costa were picked second team doubles at No. 3.
Elon's Fortmann was also named to the league's all-freshman team where he was joined by teammate Jordan Kaufman. College of Charleston's Alon Faiman, Davidson's Nicky Kunz, UNCG's Randy Phillips and Wofford's Rob Galloway were also chosen for the all-freshman team.
The 2012 Southern Conference Men's and Women's Tennis Championships begin Thursday (April 19) in Charleston, S.C.
2012 SoCon Men's Tennis Postseason Awards
First Team
Singles
Mickael Trintignac, College of Charleston
David Orces, The Citadel
Cameron Silverman, Elon
Andrew Mellow, Furman
Orcun Seyrek, UNCG
Zac Dunkle, Samford
Doubles
Mickael Trintignac/Kyle Parker, CofC
Cameron Silverman/Eric Turner, Elon
Orcun Seyrek/Ahmet Sarioglu, UNCG
Second Team
Singles (by position)
No. 1 - Roberto Vieira, Chattanooga
No. 2 - Ahmet Sarioglu, UNCG
No. 3 - Elliot Barnwell, Samford
No. 4 - Crescente Lesser, College of Charleston
No. 5 - Alexander Sajonz, Samford
No. 6 - Matt Saltsgaver, Appalachian State
Doubles (by position)
No. 1 - Sebastien King/Philip Kloc, ASU
No. 2 - Alain Humblet/Alex Markov, ASU
No. 3 - Fernando Costa/Carson Kadi, Samford
All-Freshman
Alon Faiman, CofC
Nicky Kunz, Davidson
Stefan Fortmann, Elon
Jordan Kaufman, Elon
Randy Phillips, UNCG
Rob Galloway, Wofford
Player of the Year
Orcun Seyrek
Freshman of the Year
Stefan Fortmann, Elon
Don Bunch/Buddy Hartsell Sportsmanship Award
Alain Humblet, Appalachian State
Coach of the Year
Jay Bruner, College of Charleston