Tulsa's Brugues Named Conference USA Player of the Year for Fourth-Straight Season

Westbrook earns fourth consecutive Coach of the Year honor

April 30, 2009

Irving, Texas - The University of Tulsa men's tennis team captured nearly every Conference USA postseason specialty award claiming five out of six honors as voted on by the league coaches and announced today by the conference office.

Senior Arnau Brugues, the nation's top-ranked singles player, picked up his fourth-straight Conference USA Player of the Year award and third consecutive Outstanding Singles Player of the C-USA Championship. Brugues owns a 40-3 singles record on the year with a perfect 24-0 mark this spring. The three-time All-American went 3-0 in No. 1 singles at the C-USA Championship with all wins coming against nationally-ranked opponents.

Head Coach Vince Westbrook was named the Coach of the Year after leading Tulsa to its fourth-straight conference title, becoming the first team in league history to win four consecutive championships. Westbrook is also the first coach in C-USA history to win four straight Coach of the Year awards.

"I'm honored that our program earned five out of the six awards from Conference USA," said Head Coach Vince Westbrook. "It feels great to earn the respect of your peers, especially in one of the best tennis conferences in the country. I'm really happy for Arnau winning his fourth-straight player of the year award, because it is an unbelievable accomplishment. I'm also very happy for Philip Stephens, James Seagraves and Alberto Sottocorno because they have had excellent seasons as well."

Junior Philip Stephens was named the Newcomer of the Year after posting an 18-12 singles record in his first season with the program after transferring from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Stephens is currently the 99th-ranked singles player in the nation by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.

Senior Alberto Sottocorno and freshman James Seagraves were selected as the Outstanding Doubles Team of the C-USA Championship after going 2-0 in No. 1 doubles at the conference championship. The 79th-ranked tandem is 6-3 on the season with a 5-3 mark in the No. 1 position this duel season.

The Golden Hurricane is back in action at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, May 8, against 38th-ranked TCU in the first round of the NCAA Men's Tennis Championships at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center. Tickets are available for the Tulsa Regional online at tulsahurricane.com and by calling 918-631-GoTU (4688). Prices are $8 for Adults and $5 for Youth per day.