Men's Tennis Earns ACC Player, Freshman and Coach of the Year Honors
April 19, 2006
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – In what marks the first time in league history a team has swept all three postseason awards in men’s tennis, Miami junior Luigi D’Agord was named the 2006 ACC Player of the Year, freshman Daniel Vallverdu was named ACC Freshman of the Year and head coach Mario Rincon earned ACC Coach of the Year as announced Wednesday by vote of conference coaches.
Along with D’Agord and Vallverdu, seniors Eric Hechtman and John Hoyes were named to the 2006 All-ACC Team after leading the Hurricanes to an overall record of 17-3 and a 9-2 record in league play for a share of the ACC regular season title.
D’Agord, who is ranked fourth nationally in the latest Fila/ITA rankings, was named the ACC Player of the Year after posting a 17-1 record in dual matches and a 31-4 overall record on the season. He was the only player to record a perfect 11-0 record in league competition and heads to the ACC Tournament riding a 16-match win streak.
A transfer from Alabama in his first season at Miami, the all-conference award marks the second for D’Agord who was a Second Team All-SEC selection last season with the Crimson Tide.
Vallverdu, a newcomer from Valencia, Venezuela who is ranked No. 102, earned ACC Freshman of the Year honors behind a 13-5 dual-meet record and a 9-2 record in ACC play. Playing 13 matches at the No. 2 position for the Hurricanes, he turned in an 11-2 record throughout the regular season and is 16-5 overall on the season.
Together, D’Agord and Vallverdu form the No. 15 doubles team in the country.
Rincon was voted the ACC Coach of the Year after leading the Hurricanes to a remarkable turnaround in just his second season at Miami. Just one season removed from a 12-11 campaign that saw UM finish ninth in the ACC with a 2-8 record, he guided the Hurricanes to a 17-3 overall record and a 9-2 ACC mark in league matches and a share of first place in the final regular season league standings.
Under his direction Miami is ranked in the top 10 in the nation for the first time since 1994, and seeded third heading into the ACC Men’s Tennis Championship Tournament.
Freshman Daniel Vallverdu has been named the 2006 ACC Freshman of the Year. |
Hechtman, a native of Miami, went 16-4 in dual matches and 9-2 in league play this spring. Having won five-straight matches, he finished the regular season with an overall record of 22-8 and earlier this season became Miami’s all-time career leader in doubles victories (84).
Hoyes, also from Miami, posted a career-best 21-7 overall record while going 9-1 against league opponents. He recently had an 11-match win streak snapped, but has now won 12 of his last 13 singles matches.
With four players honored, Miami finished just behind No. 9 Virginia, who placed six student-athletes on the All-Conference team, in total representation.
UM’s lineup now boasts five current or former All-ACC selections – junior Josh Cohen was a 2005 All-ACC selection – as the third-seeded Hurricanes head to Cary for the 2006 ACC Men’s Tennis Championship Tournament beginning Thursday at the Cary Tennis Center in Cary, N.C.
With a bye in the Thursday’s first round competition, Miami will take on the winner of Thursday’s match-up between No. 6 seed Wake Forest and No. 11 seed Maryland – both of which UM defeated during the regular season – Friday at 3 p.m.
