SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Elon rookie Stefan Fortmann was selected as the 2012 Southern Conference Men’s Tennis Freshman of the Year and joined Cameron Silverman, Eric Turner and Jordan Kaufman on all-conference teams. Fortmann is the second consecutive Elon player to earn top rookie honors after Silverman was honored last season. Postseason balloting was conducted by the league’s head coaches who were not allowed to vote for their own players.

Fortmann had a stellar freshman campaign, posting a 15-6 singles mark at the number two position. The Wartburg, South Africa native went 8-2 against conference opponents and has won his last four matches heading into the league tournament. Fortmann joined Silverman at the top doubles position late in the year and the duo finished the regular season with an unbeaten 5-0 mark. Fortmann was also named to the all-freshman team.

Silverman picked up first team accolades in both singles and doubles after concluding the regular season with a 15-7 overall singles record, including a 9-1 mark in league action. The sophomore’s lone conference loss came to SoCon Player of the Year Orcun Seyrek from UNCG. Silverman posted a stretch of eight straight victories midway through the year. He also teamed with senior Eric Turner to earn first-team doubles recognition as the pair went 8-6 on the season and 5-1 in SoCon matches despite the fact that Turner battled a nagging injury all season.

Kaufman joined Fortmann on the all-freshman team as Elon was the only team to boast two individuals on the six-member squad. Kaufman began the year at number five singles, but moved all the way up to number three during the season. The rookie from Armonk, N.Y., was an impressive 8-2 against league foes and won 12 matches in his first year.

The men’s tennis team will open the 2012 Southern Conference Tournament with first-round action on Thursday afternoon. The sixth-seeded Phoenix will battle the 11th-seeded Citadel Bulldogs at 2 p.m. 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, UNCG
 
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