BATON ROUGE — Senior Michael Venus of the LSU men’s tennis team earned the award for Southeastern Conference Player of the Year the league office announced on Thursday.
Venus, also named First-Team All-SEC, becomes the second in school history to earn the honor with LSU’s Michael Chmela first earning the award in 1998.
Venus holds an incredible overall 23-8 record on the season, including an 18-7 mark against nationally-ranked opponents. Venus’ longest win-streak included six-straight matches, with four against conference contenders.
He captured the award as one of three top-10 players in the SEC, which holds more players in the top ten than any other conference.
“When you consider the strength of the conference and other individuals who were up for the award, it is quite an honor,” LSU head coach Jeff Brown said. “There are so many highly ranked players in the SEC that made an impact. Michael has done so much for this team. His incredible work ethic he brings into the matches allows for his accomplishments in both singles and doubles.”
The Auckland, New Zealand native is currently ranked No. 7 in the nation, but has been as highly ranked as No. 2. In doubles, Venus posts at the No. 2 spot in the most recent Campbell/Intercollegiate Tennis Association Polls with freshman partner Neal Skupski, who also garners SEC honors.
Skupski picked up Second-Team All-SEC as well as was named to the six-member All-Freshman Team.
The 6-1 LSU freshman has had a breakout year in his first season with the Tigers, posting the second-most overall wins on the team with 20. Paired with Venus, Skupski earned a 13-7 record as the dynamic duo went on a five-match win streak in the dual season, and in that, defeated four SEC opponents.
“Neal has improved since day one,” Brown said. He has figured so much out with his game and through his hard work with (assistant coach) Bryan. Neal has certainly matured in his skills at the national level in doubles and with continued work, will be as good at singles in the future.”
Next up, LSU (10-11) continues postseason play as it hosts Rice in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on May 8 at 1 p.m. CDT in W.T. “Dub” Robinson Stadium. Should the Tigers advance, they will take on the winner of Ole Miss and Alcorn State in the second round on May 9 at 1 p.m.
2009 SEC Men’s Tennis Postseason Honors
Coach of the Year: Billy Chadwick, Ole Miss
Player of the Year: Michael Venus, LSU
Freshman of the Year: Carlos Cueto, Florida
Scholar Ahtlete of the Year: Blake Strode, Arkansas
All-SEC First Team
Saketh Myneni, Alabama
Blake Strode, Arkansas
Carlos Cueto, Florida
Alex Lacroix, Florida
Jamie Hunt, Georgia
Nate Schnugg, Georgia
Bruno Agostinelli, Kentucky
Michael Venus, LSU
Jonas Berg, Ole Miss
Kalle Norberg, Ole Miss
Bram ten berge, Ole Miss
Matteo Fago, Tennessee
John-Patrick Smith, Tennessee
All-SEC Second Team
Mathieu Thibaudeau, Alabama
Alexey Tsyrenov, Auburn
Tim Puetz, Auburn
Antoine Benneteau, Florida
Javier Garrapiz, Georgia
Josh Varela, Georgia
Eric Quigley, Kentucky
Neal Skupski, LSU
Devin Britton, Ole Miss
Otto Sauer, Ole Miss
Ryan Farlow, Mississippi State
Diego Cubas, South Carolina
Boris Conkic, Tennessee
All-Freshman Team
Alex Stamchev, Auburn
Carlos Cueto, Florida
Eric Quigley, Kentucky
Neal Skupski, LSU
Devin Britton, Ole Miss
Artem Ilyushin, Mississippi State