Men's Tennis Claims Three Big 12 Awards

May 8, 2013

NORMAN, Okla. -- The No. 14 University of Oklahoma men's tennis team collected three Big 12 postseason awards, including Coach of the Year, Player of the Year and Co-Freshman of the Year, the conference office announced Wednesday.

This is the second year in a row OU has garnered three Big 12 postseason awards.

“It just shows that we have good players on the team, and by the time Big 12 season comes around they are playing very well,” OU head coach John Roddick said. “We've been able to get some of those postseason awards in the past, and it's a nice reward for the guys. It's hard work to go out there and be consistent every week, and they did that.”

For the second consecutive year, Roddick was named Coach of the Year. He is the first Big 12 coach to nab this honor in back-to-back season since Baylor's Matt Knoll won three years in a row (2002-2004).

Roddick guided the team to a 4-1 regular season conference record and 19-6 overall record. He also led the Sooners to their second Big 12 Championship title in a row when they beat Baylor, 4-2, in the conference tournament. Last year, Roddick made OU history when he became the first Oklahoma men's tennis coach to win the Big 12's Coach of the Year award.

“It just shows the guys are playing well,” Roddick said. “We have a talented team. We work hard and do those things, but really it's more a reflection of the team than it is on me.”

Also for the second consecutive year, senior Costin Paval was named Player of the Year. Paval made history for the Sooners last year when he was named Big 12 Player of the Year, garnering the award for OU for the first time in history. In 2010, the Bucharest, Romania native won the Freshman of the Year award, making this Paval's third Big 12 postseason award.

“That's impressive,” Roddick said. “It's not easy to be the best player in this conference two years in a row. I think he was heads and toes above a lot of the players. He really earned it and has shown the last two years that he's dominated the play in the Big 12.”

Paval compiled a 5-0 record at the No. 1 singles position in Big 12 regular season play. He claimed position titles in both singles and doubles, as he and partner Dane Webb finished in a three-way tie with the No. 1 duos from Baylor and TCU. Paval was one of only two players in the Big 12 to play the No. 1 position in both singles and doubles.

“You just go on the court and do your job,” Paval said. “The results that come after that are just the result of the hard work you put in. I appreciate it, I thank the people that considered me and I'm going to keep doing what I do.”

Axel Alvarez Llamas tied with Baylor's Julian Lenz as the Co-Freshman of the Year. Alvarez Llamas spent most of the year at the No. 4 position, but started playing more consistently at the No. 3 spot near the end of the season. The Asturias, Spain native won the Big 12 title at the No. 4 spot in singles, and he and partner Guillermo Alcorta won the title at the No. 2 doubles position.

“I think for Axel it's an exciting award because he came from Spain and they don't quite understand college tennis when they get here,” Roddick said. “Now at the end of it to start seeing those kinds of rewards given to him because of hard work, I think it just helps him really understand college tennis. He did a great job this year at three and four singles being really, really consistent. He really started playing better as the year went on, and as a coach that's a nice thing to see.”

All-Big 12 teams were also announced Wednesday.

OU tied Baylor for most selections on the 12-person singles team. Paval, Alvarez Llamas, Alcorta and Webb all placed on the team. This is the third straight year Paval has made the All-Big 12 team. It is the second year for both Alcorta and Webb, and the first year for Alvarez Llamas.

The Sooners also placed two duos on the six-team doubles list with the duos of Paval and Webb, and Alcorta and Alvarez Llamas. OU is the only school with two doubles tandems on the All-Big 12 doubles team.

OU is one of 16 host sites for the NCAA Norman Regionals Friday, May 10, and Saturday, May 11. The Sooners face No. 74 Wichita State in the first round Friday at 2 p.m. The winner will advance to the second round and play the winner of No. 24 Auburn and No. 39 North Carolina State Saturday at 2 p.m.

Follow @OU_Tennis on Twitter and like Oklahoma Men's Tennis on Facebook for more information on the men's tennis program.