Golden Eagles sweep individual awards, named to 2015 all-Ohio Valley Conference teams.
The name Tennessee Tech was called quite often Thursday evening when the Ohio Valley Conference announced the 2015 post-season tennis awards. The honors were presented at the OVC Awards Dinner on the eve of the league’s tennis tournament.
By Jocelyn VerVelde, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The name Tennessee Tech was called quite often Thursday evening when the Ohio Valley Conference announced the 2015 post-season tennis awards. The honors were presented at the OVC Awards Dinner on the eve of the league's tennis tournament, to be played Friday through Sunday at Nashville's Centennial Sportsplex.
The Golden Eagles, who were regular season conference co-champions, swept the individual awards, and saw student-athletes named to both the first and second 2015 all-Ohio Valley Conference teams. Top honors went to junior Alex Arovin, freshman Eduardo Mena and head coach Kenny Doyle.
Following an 8-1 record in OVC play, along with a 6-0 home record, Doyle guided the squad to its third OVC regular season title in the last four years. The Tech team was picked to finish fourth in conference play in the preseason poll. For his efforts, Doyle was named Co-OVC Coach of the Year with Austin Peay's head coach, Ross Brown. This is Doyle's third time receiving the honor, as he also won the award following the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons.
Coming in as a heralded recruit, Mena lived up to the hype earning TTU's first OVC Freshman of the Year honor since 2012. A 10-match winning-streak highlighted his successful first campaign that saw the native of Buitrago del Lozoya, Spain finish with a 15-5 overall singles record, and a 6-1 OVC record between the No. 2 and 3 spots. Mena's first year was also highlighted by wins over players from Louisville and Tennessee, and a crucial win over Belmont to help the Golden Eagles top the Bruins to stay perfect at home. Mena's honor marks the fifth time a TTU athlete has won the award since it was started in 2005.
A 2014 all-OVC first-team member and a 2015 Preseason all-OVC selection, Arovin entered fall competition as Tech's first nationally ranked student-athlete since 2009. He opened the season tied for 94th nationally in the preseason Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) rankings, which charts the Top 125 individuals. A 6-foot-1 native of Donetsk, Ukriane, Arovin finished OVC play with an impressive 6-2 record in the No. 1 singles spot, including closing the season on a five-match win streak. He also teamed with sophomore Alberto Esteban to roll through the No. 1 doubles competition in the OVC, finishing with a 7-0 record. The OVC coaches took note of how Arovin's play helped guide the Golden Eagles to the regular season championship, and named him the 2015 OVC Player of the Year. This is the 11th Player of the Year honor for the Golden Eagles. Arovin was also named the 2015 all-Ohio Valley Conference first-team.
Mena and Esteban each earned spots on the 2015 all-Ohio Valley Conference second team. Esteban finished with a 6-1 record in the OVC between the No. 2 and 3 spots, along with teaming up with Arovin to collect the 7-0 No. 1 doubles record. Esteban was also a 2015 Preseason all-OVC selection.
The Golden Eagles head into the Ohio Valley Conference tournament this weekend as the No. 2 seed and will have a first-round bye On Friday. As the No. 2 seed, the Golden Eagles will start on Saturday at 2 p.m., facing the winner of the No. 3 Austin Peay and No. 6 Morehead State match. The championship matches is Sunday, with the tournament winner receiving the league's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
FIRST TEAM
Mauricio Antun, Belmont, Sr.
Ritchie Kruunenberg, Morehead State, So.
Aleksas Tverijonas, Austin Peay, Sr.
Marko Lovrinovic, Belmont, Sr.
Alex Arovin, Tennessee Tech, Jr.
Dimitar Ristovski, Austin Peay, Sr.
Dylan Gee, Jacksonville State, So.
SECOND TEAM
Eduardo Mena, Tennessee Tech, Fr.
Rob Skolik, Eastern Illinois, Jr.
Alberto Esteban, Tennessee Tech, So.
Preston Touliatos, Eastern Illinois, Fr.
Alex Alvaro, Eastern Kentucky, Jr.
Ramon van Flymen, Eastern Kentucky, Fr.
Jefferson Wendler-Filho, Jacksonville State, So.
(Seven players appear on the first team due to a tie)
OVC PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Alex Arovin, Tennessee Tech
OVC FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Eduardo Mena, Tennessee Tech
Co-OVC COACH OF THE YEAR: Kenny Doyle, Tennessee Tech; Ross Brown, Austin Peay
