SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference announced its postseason men’s tennis awards today, April 16. Elon University junior Cameron Silverman was named the Southern Conference Player of the Year, while Phoenix head coach Michael Leonard was tabbed Southern Conference Coach of the Year for the fourth time in his career.
 
Silverman, ranked 56th in the nation in singles, enters this week’s Southern Conference Tennis Championships with an overall record of 13-7 this season, including a 6-2 mark against league competition. Silverman was named the Southern Conference Player of the Week twice this season and earned player of the month honors in February. Silverman was also named a first-team All-Southern Conference selection in singles, as well as doubles with teammate Stefan Fortmann. The duo ranks 43rd nationally with an overall record of 14-4, including a 9-1 mark versus league competition.
 
Leonard picked up Southern Conference Coach of the Year accolades for the fourth time in his career after leading the Phoenix to its fourth regular season title in the last seven years in 2013. Elon earned the top seed in this week’s Southern Conference Championships after finishing the regular season with a 15-7 record and an 8-2 mark in conference play. Leonard helped Elon crack the ITA national rankings as a team on March 26, as the Phoenix came in at No. 72.
 
In addition, rookie Robert Lindgren was named to the league’s all-freshman team after finishing the regular season with 10 victories, including six in SoCon action. Lindgren has played at No. 3 for Elon most of the season.
 
The doubles team of Jordan Kaufman and Juan Madrid earned second-team all-league honors in doubles. The duo enters this week’s tournament with an 11-2 record this season, including a 9-1 mark against league competition. Kaufman and Madrid have played all their doubles matches at No. 3 this season.
 
After winning the Southern Conference regular season title, the Elon men’s tennis team earned the top seed in this week’s tournament. The Phoenix plays its first match on Friday, April 19, at 9 a.m. at the Burlington Tennis Center. Elon faces the winner of eighth-seeded Furman and ninth-seeded Appalachian State.
 
2013 SoCon Men’s Tennis Postseason Awards
 
First Team
Singles
Cameron Silverman, Elon
Andrew Mellow, Furman
Andrew Dromsky, Georgia Southern
Ahmet Sarioglu, UNCG
Zac Dunkle, Samford
Manuel Barroetavena, Chattanooga
 
Doubles
Zach Bost/Sebastien King, APP
Cameron Silverman/Stefan Fortmann, Elon
James Dougherty/Randy Phillips, UNCG
 
Second Team
Singles (by position)
No. 1 – Rob Galloway, Wofford
No. 2 – Rayane Djouad, Georgia Southern
No. 3 – Fares Kilani, Samford
No. 4 – Randy Phillips, UNCG
No. 5 – Austin Akers, Samford
No. 6 – Zack Lewis, College of Charleston
 
Doubles (by position)
No. 1 – Chris Mark/Kevin Moore, Davidson
            Ankit Chopra/Roberto Vieira, Chattanooga
No. 2 – Daniel Mack/Ahmet Sarioglu, UNCG
No. 3 – Jordan Kaufman, Juan Madrid, Elon
 
All-Freshman
Zack Lewis, College of Charleston
Robert Lindgren, Elon
Matt Browne, Furman
Rayane Djouad, Georgia Southern
James Dougherty, UNCG
Fares Kilani, Samford
 
Player of the Year
Cameron Silverman, Elon
 
Freshman of the Year
Rayane Djouad, Georgia Southern
 
Don Bunch/Buddy Hartsell Sportsmanship Award
Joe Schafer, Davidson
 
Coach of the Year
Michael Leonard, Elon