ATLANTA (April 16, 2018) – The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference announced its annual all-conference honors on Monday as Morehouse paced all teams with eight honorees while Benedict swept the superlative honors.
Quentin Eloise was named the 2018 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Men’s Tennis Player of the Year after being named last year’s Freshman of the Year. Benedict’s Nikola Aleksic was named 2018 Freshman of the Year alongside head coach, Gary Taylor, who was selected as this year’s Coach of the Year.
All conference honors are voted on by league head coaches and sports information directors.
Benedict’s, junior, Quentin Eloise captured the prestigious title of Player of the Year after leading the conference in No. 2 singles this season with a perfect, 7-0 record. The 2017 Freshman of the Year led the three-time defending conference champions to a 13-8 overall record while finishing 10-2 in conference play and securing the No. 1 seed leading into the championship tournament. He posted a 12-6 singles record including a perfect 10-0 league record. The Martinique, France native is riding a five-game winning streak heading into the SIAC championship tournament.
Benedict’s, freshman, Nikola Aleksic, made his debut with the Tigers by earning SIAC Freshman of the Year accolades in a season where he finished 10-8 in singles and doubles play. The Belgrade, Serbia native finished 5-4 in No. 1 singles and 3-2 in No. 4 singles, including 7-2 in conference play. The rookie also debuted at 10-6 in No. 1 doubles alongside doubles partner and Player of the Year, Quentin Eloise.
Benedict’s head coach, Gary Taylor was named SIAC Coach of the Year after guiding his squad to a 13-8 record, including 10-2 in conference play. The former Benedict College graduate earned yet another Coach of the Year award landing his team to the No. 1 seed leading into the conference championship tournament.
Morehouse secured the No. 2 seed and is set to face No. 3 Tuskegee on Monday, April 16 at 1 p.m. EST. Following after, the defending champions, Benedict Tigers, will face No. 4 Fort Valley State at 3 p.m. The finals will commence on Tuesday, April 17 with the first match scheduled for 1 p.m.
The 2018 SIAC Men’s Tennis Championship is set to take place April 16-17 at Peachtree Tennis Center in Peachtree City, Ga. For more information,
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2018 SIAC Men’s All-Conference Team
All-Conference Team - Singles
| Singles |
Taj Ballantyne |
Benedict |
|
Julius Mutetwa |
Benedict |
|
Cedric Nitz |
Spring Hill |
|
Chris Mines |
Spring Hill |
|
Ricardo Pena |
Spring Hill |
|
Quentin Eloise |
Benedict |
All-Conference Team – Doubles
| Doubles |
Lars Bajohr /Cedric Nitz |
Spring Hill |
|
Nikola Aleksic/Quentin Eloise |
Benedict |
|
Taj Ballantyne/Julius Mutetwa |
Benedict |
Player of the Year: Quentin Eloise, Benedict
Freshman of the Year: Nikola Aleksic, Benedict
Coach of the Year: Gary Taylor, Benedict
2018 SIAC Men's Tennis Championship Tournament Information
Championship Preview |
Tournament Schedule |
Men's Tennis Page |
Women's Tennis Page |
Peachtree Tennis Center |
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