April 16, 2008
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Vanderbilt senior men’s tennis player Ryan Preston joined an elite company on Wednesday when he became just the fourth player in school history to become a three-time All-SEC selection.
Preston was one of two at-large selections named first team All-SEC in a vote by the leagues head coaches and announced by the league office.
“This honor is very much deserved,” Vanderbilt head coach Ian Duvenhage said. “He’s been one of the better No. 1 players in this league for a number of years and he is very much deserving.”
The first team is comprised of 12 players. The 10-highest ranked SEC players in the latest ITA rankings (April 15) were automatically named to the first team, while the two remaining members were at-large selections. LSU’s Michael Venus was the other at-large selection.
“The fact that he made one of these two at-large spots says a lot about how he is regarded in the league,” Duvenhage said. “I’m very happy for him.”
The first team honor is the second of Preston’s career after also earning the honor as a sophomore in 2006. Last season, Preston earned second team All-SEC accolades. By earning All-SEC honors for the third time in his career, the Northbrook, Ill., native joins Scott Brown (2003, 04, 05), Chad Harris (2002, 03, 04) and Peter Lamb (1978, 79, 80) as the only players in school history to earn three All-SEC honors in their career.
Vanderbilt’s No. 1 singles player for each of the last three seasons, Preston is ranked No. 54 in the country and stands at 11-9 in dual play and 5-6 in the SEC. Preston also owns an overall record of 15-13.
This spring, Preston has posted wins over five ranked opponents, including a win over SEC Player of the Year Greg Ouellette of Florida. The economics major also clinched Vanderbilt’s wins over Alabama and Middle Tennessee State.
2008 All-SEC Honors:
Coach of the Year: Sam Winterbotham, Tennessee
Player of the Year: Greg Ouellette, Florida
Freshman of the Year: J.P. Smith, Tennessee
Co-Scholar Ahtletes of the Year: Blake Strode, Arkansas / Kevin Dessauer, LSU
All-SEC First Team:
Alexey Tsyrenov, Auburn
Greg Ouellette, Florida
Travis Helgeson, Georgia
Nate Schnugg, Georgia
Bruno Agostinelli, Kentucky
Michael Venus, LSU
Erling Tveit, Ole Miss
Jonas Berg, Ole Miss
Matthias Wellerman, Ole Miss
Ivan Bjelica, Mississippi State
J.P. Smith, Tennessee
Ryan Preston, Vanderbilt
All-SEC Second Team:
Mat Thibaudeau, Alabama
Tim Puetz, Auburn
Alex Lacroix, Florida
Luis Flores, Georgia
Jamie Hunt, Georgia
Javier Garrapiz, Georgia
Kevin Dessauer, LSU
Robbye Poole, Ole Miss
Kalle Norberg, Ole Miss
Phillippe Frayssinoux, Mississippi State
Boris Conkic, Tennessee
Kaden Hensel, Tennessee
All-Freshman Team:
Tim Puetz, Auburn
Javier Garrapiz, Georgia
Matteo Fago, Tennessee
Boris Conkic, Tennessee
J.P. Smith, Tennessee
