April 17, 2008

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.

Head coach Paul Scarpa was also named Coach of the Year. Scarpa led the men's tennis team to a 13-10 overall record and 9-0 in conference action and the regular season title. Scarpa also reached a major career milestone this year, recording his 800th win on March 9 against Georgia Southern.

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.

Five Paladin men's tennis players also earned all-conference honors. Junior Andy Juc was named first team all-conference for singles, while Bo Ladyman and Jordan Walters earned first team all-conference honors for doubles.

Furman dominated the second team all-conference singles awards with three Paladins being named to the team. Daniel Knause was honored for flight three, Chris Motes for flight four, and Jordan Walters for flight five.

The Paladins will begin play in the quarterfinals of the Southern Conference tournament Friday, April 18 with a match against the College of Charleston. Match time is scheduled for 8:30 a.m.

Men's Awards
Player of the Year - Andy Juc, Furman
Freshman of the Year - Oscar Podlewski, Elon
Coach of the Year - Paul Scarpa, Furman

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 Knoueleue, 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 Knoueleue/Borja Malet, Georgia Southern
#2 D- Alberto Rojas/Mason Schermerhorn, Elon
#2D- Daniel Dossetor/Yufo Sutantio, The Citadel
#3 D- Gregory Bekkers/Philip Prins, Georgia Southern