AASU Earns ITA DII National Tennis Honors On Tuesday

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. - Armstrong Atlantic State men's and women's tennis was honored with five national awards on Tuesday from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, prior to the beginning of the 2009 NCAA Division II National Championships in Altamonte Springs.

Freshman Eudaldo Bonet was named the ITA's DII Men's Rookie of the Year, while freshman Sona Novakova was named the DII Women's Rookie of the Year. Head coach Simon Earnshaw was honored as the DII Women's Head Coach of the Year, and assistant coach David Secker was named the DII Men's and Women's Assistant Coach of the Year, the first time that assistant coaches have been honored by the ITA.

Bonet is the first AASU men's tennis player to earn National Rookie of the Year honors. The PBC's Player and Freshman of the Year in 2009, Bonet is currently ranked No. 2 in the nation in singles with a 21-3 dual match record this season. The Barcelona, Spain, native was the ITA DII National singles champion in the fall and has wins over five of the top eight singles players in NCAA Division II.

Novakova is currently the top-ranked singles player in the nation with a perfect 20-0 dual match singles record this season. The PBC's Player and Freshman of the Year in 2009, Novakova was also the ITA DII National singles champion in the fall and 14 of her 20 singles wins this season have come against nationally-ranked opponents. The Slapanice, Czech Republic, native is the fourth AASU player to earn ITA National Rookie of the Year honors and the first since Zsofi Golopencza in 2001.

Earnshaw nabs a third career ITA Women's Tennis Coach of the Year honor after leading the Lady Pirates to a No. 3 national ranking, a 24-1 overall record and a sixth consecutive season with one loss or less. In his 10th year at the helm of AASU Tennis, Earnshaw has compiled a 259-29 career record with the women, including national titles in 2005 and 2008.

Secker, meanwhile, earns the first-ever Assistant Coach of the Year honors for both the men and the women. A former four-year player for the Pirates, Secker has helped the AASU men achieve a No. 1 national ranking and a 26-1 overall record, while also assisting the No. 3-ranked Lady Pirates to their 24-1 mark. This is Secker's third season as the assistant coach at AASU.

The Pirates also picked one regional award, announced previously, as sophomore Alida Muller-Wehlau was named the Southeast Region "Player to Watch" on the women's side.

Both the AASU men's and women's teams begin defense of their NCAA DII National Championships on Wednesday with the men's team taking on Queens (NY) at 10:30 a.m. and the women facing St. Edward's (Texas) at 4:00 p.m. at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs.