April 29, 2010
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina seniors Pedro Campos and Diego Cubas were named to the Men’s Tennis All-Southeastern Conference first and second teams, respectively, the league announced today. The two have combined for a 36-16 singles record and form the Gamecocks’ top doubles team with an 8-5 slate. The pair of selections marks the first time multiple Gamecocks have been honored by the league since 1999.
“The top two players in our lineup had great years,” South Carolina head coach Kent DeMars said. “To be on the all-conference team in a league as strong as the SEC says a lot about their level play throughout the season. It’s great for our program to have multiple players recognized by the league.”
The first-team selection for Campos is the first all-conference honor of his career. Ranked No. 30 in the nation in singles, Campos capped his solid career with his most efficient season to date. After sitting out in the fall, he dominated opponents in dual matches, going 17-2 overall. His 9-1 mark in the SEC makes him just the second player in Gamecock history to finish the regular season with that record playing in one of the top three spots in the singles lineup. Campos put together a 16-match win streak heading into the final match of the regular season, tying the third-longest successful stretch in school history. He ranks among the program’s top 20 in career singles wins (13th, 84), doubles wins (16th, 58) and combined wins (17th, 142). His 84-41 career singles record puts him in 15th place in school history with a .683 winning percentage.
Cubas is making his second appearance in as many seasons on the All-SEC second team. Playing all but two matches in the No. 1 singles spot, he has a 19-14 singles record and ranks 59th in the nation. Cubas is 19-12 this season in doubles, playing with several partners in the No. 1 spot in the lineup. The last two months of the season, he teamed with Campos to post an 8-5 overall record, including a 6-5 mark in league play. With a 6-4 mark against nationally-ranked opponents, the Gamecock duo quickly moved into the national rankings, slotting in at No. 29 this week.
South Carolina is currently ranked No. 50 in the nation and awaits the NCAA Tournament announcement, which comes out on Tue., May 4. Selections for the individual singles and doubles championships will be announced on Wed., May 5.
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
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 Athlete of the Year: Saketh Myneni, Alabama
