- About
- |
- Schedules
- |
- Camps
- |
- Facilities
- |
- Directory
- |
- Visitor's Guide
- |
- Athletic Training
- |
- Aquatics
- |
- Resources
|
Program Cleans Up MAC Commonwealth Honors
Posted: 4/23/2008
More Men's Tennis news 
Senior Nate Ipsen was named the MAC Commonwealth Player of the Year Thursday.
Annville, PA — The Messiah College men’s tennis team’s dominance of the MAC Commonwealth Conference was apparent this season. Thursday morning, the squad’s plaque collection followed suit. Messiah senior Nate Ipsen claimed MAC Commonwealth Player of the Year honors while freshman Jansen Hein won the rookie of the year award, leading four Falcons’ athletes to all-conference recognition: Senior Jonathan Siemen joined Ipsen with MAC Commonwealth First Team accolades, while Hein and junior Sam Shorts were both selected to the second team. First-year program leader Frank Petre was named conference coach of the year, leading Messiah to its third straight undefeated season — and championship — in league play. “It’s a great honor for our guys, and I feel they are very deserving,” Petre said. “Our upperclassmen have led us all year, so it’s very fitting that Nate and Jonathan were both named to first team all-conference honors.” That tandem did so in very different manners, as the 5-8 Ipsen posted a 4-0 conference record at number one singles while Siemen did the same at number two. They paired to go 4-0 at the top doubles slot in league play, while going 12-5 overall. “Nate is a true student of the game,” Petre said. “He has a great ability to dissect his opponents’ weaknesses, and is skilled and smart enough to exploit them. He’s not your typical big-game tennis player in that he’s not going to overpower you. He’s more of a craftsman. Jonathan is a very strong, aggressive player with a big forehand. He’s very determined not to lose. They complimented each other well (in doubles play), as Nate’s kind of the set up guy and Jonathan finishes. Playing together for three years, they communicate very well.” Hein was the unanimous decision as league rookie of the year, going 4-0 at the number four singles position while posting an undefeated mark at the third doubles position with sophomore Luke Ruch. “Jansen dominated his singles position in conference play,” Petre said. “He’s only been playing tennis competitively for four years. He’s a very good athlete and is very well conditioned. He’s matured immensely over the course of the year and really came into his own as a conference player.” Shorts rounded out the list of award-winners, going 3-1 as the Falcons’ number three player. Shorts — whose 6-9 height belies his surname — teamed with 6-4 senior William Tanis at the number two doubles position, going 3-1 in league matches as well. “Sam has steadily improved for us this year, and has become an aggressive net rusher and dominant server,” Petre said. “He and Tanis are probably one of the best — and tallest — doubles teams in the league. They play off one another very well.”
|
