May 5, 2008

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. -- Five members of the Navy tennis program garnered postseason accolades from the Patriot League Monday afternoon. Nate Nelms and Johnny Waters were both named First-Team All-Patriot League, Jason Hill was a second-team all-league selection, Owen Bullard was tabbed as the league's rookie of the year and John Officer was recognized as the Patriot League Coach of the Year.

The Mids won their second-straight Patriot League title this season and will open the NCAA Tournament Saturday at Florida.

Nelms (Jr., St. Mary's, Ga.) received first-team all-league recognition for the third-straight season. The 2006 league rookie of the year and the '07 league player of the year, he posted spring records of 17-8 at No. 1 singles and 17-5 at No. 1 doubles (with Waters). Additionally, Nelms compiled a 5-1 record in singles and a 4-1 record in doubles against the Patriot League this year.

Waters (Jr., Papillion, Neb.) garnered first-team accolades this season after being placed on the league's second team a year ago. He posted a 5-1 record at No. 2 singles and a 4-1 mark at No. 1 doubles (with Nelms) against Patriot League opponents this spring, while compiling overall marks of 13-14 in singles and 17-5 in doubles during the spring dual meet campaign.

Hill (Jr., Marietta, Ga.) totaled records of 15-8 in singles and 20-4 in doubles during the spring season. He was 5-2 at No. 3 singles and 7-0 with Nick Birger (Fr., Belleville, Ill.) at No. 3 doubles against Patriot League opponents this year to earn all-league honors for the first time in his career.

Bullard (Fr., Concord, N.C.) posted a record of 19-5 in singles this spring, with the majority of his matches coming at the No. 6 flight. He compiled a 5-1 mark in singles against the Patriot League this year.

Officer picked up his second-straight Patriot League Coach-of-the-Year honor this season. He has now received the laurel four times during his career, which ties former Army head coach Steve Strome for the most accolades received by a men's tennis coach in league history. He has guided the Mids to five Patriot League crowns, which also ties the league standard held by Strome.

First-Team All-Patriot League
Phil Muhawi, Army; Eddie Kang, Army; Ira Reibeisen, Bucknell; Martin MacIntyre, Colgate; Nate Nelms, Navy; Johnny Waters, Navy

Second-Team All-Patriot League
Sean Harris, Army; Ryan Sandburg, Bucknell; Eric Wiley, Lafayette; Troy List, Lehigh; John Nespoli, Lehigh; Jason Hill, Navy

Major Individual Awards
Player of the Year -- Martin MacIntyre, Colgate
Rookie of the Year -- Owen Bullard, Navy
Coach of the Year -- John Officer, Navy