May 13, 2009

A-10 All-Conference Teams

ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. - After a successful Atlantic 10 Tournament in which it finished in second place, the St. Bonaventure men's tennis team received some more good news on Tuesday evening as five student-athletes earned All-Conference honors, in voting conducted by the league head coaches.

Sophomore Mikhail Sudakov highlighted the five award winners by claiming the A-10 Student-Athlete of the Year honor to go along with his second team All-Conference choice. Western New York (WNY) natives Jonathan Luce and Chris Post were selected to the All-Conference first team, while senior Leo Mochizuki and junior Diego Valdenegro joined Sudakov on the second team.

St. Bonaventure's five selections to the All-Conference team are one better than last year's program record of four. The Brown and White have placed a student-athlete on the All-Conference team in 10 straight seasons.

The programs first-ever A-10 Student-Athlete of the Year, Sudakov combined his 3.96 cumulative grade-point average (GPA) in accounting with a 19-7 singles record and 19-6 double mark in 2008-09. Sudakov posted a 2-1 at No. 3 doubles in the A-10 Tournament and won his only match at fifth singles. The Stupino, Moscow Region, Russia native won five straight singles matches to close the season and nine of his last 10.

Luce's appearance on the first team is the second All-Conference honor of his career. The Bemus Point, N.Y. native spent most of his time at No. 2 singles, racking up 12 wins. Luce teamed with fellow WNY native and fellow first team choice Post at top doubles and accumulated a 15-8 record.

Post picked up the match-winning point in the semifinals against GW.

Post made his mark on the A-10 coaches at the Conference Tournament by winning one of the most dramatic matches in program history to help the Bonnies advance to the championship. Trailing 5-2 in the third and final set on match point, Post rallied to defeat GW's Yan Levinski - also a first team selection - 7-6 (3) to clinch the game-winning point. For the season, Post had 12 victories at top singles and went 17-12 in top doubles.

Valdenegro has made the All-Conference team in each of his three seasons in the Brown and White. A native Santiago, Chile, Valdenegro earned a 16-11 record in singles, playing spots 2-4. Valdenegro also posted a 15-8 mark playing at No. 2 doubles.

Despite missing a portion of the spring season with an injury, Mochizuki earned his second straight All-Conference honor in as many years. Mochizuki returned from his injury in style, winning his first five matches after missing time. Mochizuki finished with an 11-11 singles mark in the top three spots in the lineup.

St. Bonaventure and head coach Mike Bates will return four players from this year's team who made the program's third-ever appearance in the A-10 Championship match.