Nik Scholtz hits the ball during an NCAA college tennis match in Oxford, Miss., Sunday, March 23, 2014. (DM Photo/Alex Edwards)
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Ole Miss men’s tennis junior Nik Scholtz has been named the SEC Player of the Year, the conference office announced Thursday. He becomes the fourth Rebel in program history to be named SEC Player of the Year.
The conference also announced the All-SEC teams, and Scholtz earned first team honors for the third consecutive year.
Ranked No. 9 in the nation, Scholtz is the highest ranked singles player from the SEC, which boasts seven teams in the top 25. Scholtz has led the league at No. 1 singles with a 15-1 record. He posted a 6-1 record in the SEC regular season and a 2-0 record in the SEC Tournament, highlighted by two wins over Kentucky’s Tom Jomby, ranked No. 11 in the nation, and a win over Texas A&M’s Harrison Adams, ranked No. 19 in the nation. Scholtz’ play has put the Rebels in position to earn their 21st straight NCAA appearance.
“Nik’s results speak for themselves. He has been outstanding all spring long and has proven he is the league’s premier player,” head coach Billy Chadwick said. “As equally impressive has been his leadership with the team. His play and tenacious approach to the game has been instrumental in securing our position for the upcoming NCAA Championships.”
Scholtz’ past honors include All-American, All-SEC and SEC Freshman of the Year. He becomes the first player in Ole Miss men’s tennis history to earn both Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year honors during his career.
Twelve-time ATP Grand Slam champion Mahesh Bhupathi became the first Rebel to earn SEC Player of the Year honors in 1995 and later that year won the NCAA Doubles Championship. Three-time All-Americans Johan Hede (1996) and Catalin Gard (2004), both ranked No.1 in the nation, are the only other two Rebels to receive the league’s top honor.
The Rebels will find out their NCAA destination Tuesday, April 29 at 4 p.m. CT. The selection show will be broadcast on NCAA.com.
