The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebel Netters Earn All-SEC Honors
4/29/2010 | Men's Tennis
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Ole Miss men's tennis players Marcel Thiemann and Tucker Vorster earned All-SEC honors as the conference yearly awards were announced Thursday. Thiemann made the first team, while Vorster was named to the second team.
"Marcel and Tucker are two of the most improved players in the nation," head coach Billy Chadwick said. "It's a great honor to be recognized on the All-SEC team, simply because the Southeastern Conference is the strongest tennis conference in the country, and tennis is the strongest sport in the conference.
"Marcel was playing No. 6 singles last year and Tucker had not played any singles in his career (up to this season)."
Thiemann, a native of Lehrte, Germany, is currently ranked No. 33 in the nation in singles and No. 20 in doubles with his brother Chris. After playing No. 6 singles last year, Thiemann has played No. 1 singles, posting a 13-8 dual match record. He teamed with his brother to go 10-1 in the SEC in doubles.
Vorster, a native of Pretoria, South Africa, went from not playing singles last year to playing No. 1 and 2. He owns a 12-11 dual match record, 8-5 at No. 2, where he went 5-2 in the SEC. Vorster also teams with freshman Jonas Lutjen for a 16-8 dual match record, 6-0 at No. 2 doubles. They posted a 7-4 mark in SEC play.
Thiemann and Vorster became the leaders of the team after the Rebels lost five starters from last year's SEC Champion squad, including NCAA Champion Devin Britton, All-Americans Jonas Berg and Bram ten Berge and senior Kalle Norberg, who was sidelined for the year with an injury. Thiemann and Vorster have helped lead the Rebels to their ninth consecutive SEC Western Division Championship, the SEC Tournament semifinals for the eighth time in the last nine years and a current national ranking of No. 18.
Next up for the Rebels is the NCAA first and second rounds. The 64-team bracket as well as the host sites will be announced May 4 on ESPNews at 4 p.m. CT.
Coach of the Year: Sam Winterbotham, Tennessee
Player of the Year: John-Patrick Smith, Tennessee
Co-Freshmen of the Year: Rhyne Williams, Tennessee / Ryan Lipman, Vanderbilt
Scholar Ahtlete of the Year: Saketh Myneni, Alabama
All-SEC First Team
Saketh Myneni, Alabama
Tim Puetz, Auburn
Alex Lacroix, Florida
Javier Garrapiz, Georgia
Eric Quigley, Kentucky
Marcel Thiemann, Ole Miss
Pedro Campos, South Carolina
Boris Conkic, Tennessee
Davey Sandgren, Tennessee
John-Patrick Smith, Tennessee
Rhyne Williams, Tennessee
Ryan Lipman, Vanderbilt
All-SEC Second Team
Chris Nott, Arkansas
Tim Hewitt, Auburn
Alex Stamchev, Auburn
Antoine Benneteau, Florida
Jamie Hunt, Georgia
Nate Schnugg, Georgia
Alex Musialek, Kentucky
Neal Skupski, LSU
Tucker Vorster, Ole Miss
George Coupland, Mississippi State
Diego Cubas, South Carolina
Tennys Sandgren, Tennessee
All-Freshman Team
Tim Hewitt, Auburn
Sekou Bangoura Jr., Florida
Bob Van Overbeek, Florida
Anthony Rossi, Kentucky
Tennys Sandgren, Tennessee
Rhyne Williams, Tennessee
Ryan Lipman, Vanderbilt
