CAC Release

YORK, Pa. -- Christopher Newport Director of Tennis Eric Christiansen hauled in his first career Conference Coach of the Year recognition on Thursday morning, as the Capital Athletic Conference released the 2017 Men's Tennis All-Conference Teams. The Captains' guide headlined an impressive CNU contingent on this year's team, after CNU captured the program's first ever CAC Championship and automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Men's Tennis National Championships. 

CNU led the league with five All-Conference selections in singles, including a pair of first team nods, while also leading in doubles as all three of the Captains' doubles tandems were recognized as All-Conference picks. In total, eight different players earned All-Conference honors, led by the talented junior tandem of David Reed and Justin Cerny, earning first team honors in both singles and doubles. 

Rookies Andy Mason, Dominic Lacombe and sophomore Nicholas Ruzicka joined the CNU juniors as All-Conference picks in singles, all collecting a second team nod. In doubles, Mason joined Cerny and Reed as All-League picks in both singles and doubles, earning second team honors with his partner, sophomore William Trang, who picks up his second career All-CAC designation. Rounding out the 2017 All-CAC picks were the senior tandem of Michael Dodd and Arttu Fiva, marking the first career honor for Dodd and the third straight for Fiva. 

Christiansen earned his first career Coach of the Year honor after guiding the nationally-ranked Captains to the program's third league tournament title in the 50-year history of CNU men's tennis (2006 & 2008). It was the team's first since joining the Capital Athletic Conference in 2013 and sends the program back to the NCAA Tournament for just the second time in program history. While at the helm, CNU posted a 14-9 overall record, including seven wins over regionally-ranked opponents. 

The CAC Championship win ended a 17-year reign by Mary Washington as conference champions, as the Captains secured a 5-3 win over the Eagles in the title bout. The Eagles were ranked 17th in the nation, marking the second Top-20 win since Christiansen took over the program in 2012. 

Leading the way for CNU was David Reed, who earned his first career All-Conference selection in singles. Ranked 13th in the Atlantic South as an individual and 2nd in the region with partner Justin Cerny in doubles, the Captains' junior had an impressive run at the top line this spring, winning three matches over nationally-ranked opponents. He played in 17 matches at No. 1 singles, including a dominating straight set win over Mary Washington's nationally-ranked Brandon Griffin (6-0, 6-1). 

In doubles, Reed paired with Justin Cerny for a terrific season on the top line, climbing all the way to No. 2 in the region after a 14-win season. The two combined to go 12-6 in duals, including a win over a nationally-ranked tandem from Swarthmore College in the first match of the spring season. The juniors won seven straight and nine of their last ten matches of the season, including both in the conference tournament. 

Cerny was also recognized as a first team All-Conference selection in singles, picking up his third career honor and second as a member of the first team. He ranked tied for second on the team with 11 victories this season, while earning eight on the top two lines. In league play, he went 4-1 during the regular season, while also tacking on a pivotal win during the CAC Championship at No. 2 singles over Patrick Hughes (6-4, 6-4). 

The second team All-Conference selections point to a bright future for CNU tennis, as a trifecta of underclassmen were picked as all-league players in 2017. Freshman Dominic Lacombe led the team in wins with a 16-9 overall record, playing at four different lines during the dual season, while rookie Andy Mason tied Cerny for second with 11 wins in his first year. Nicholas Ruzicka grabbed his first career honor after a 10-win dual season, playing at 3-6. He caught fire for CNU late in the year, going 8-2 in his last ten matches. 

In doubles, the senior pairing of Arttu Fiva and Michael Dodd capped their careers with the All-Conference second team selection. The veterans played together in 10 matches, going 7-3 with a 6-2 mark in dual play. Mason paired with William Trang to earn second team All-Conference honors as well, following a 12-10 season including a perfect 6-0 mark in league play. The duo was perfect at No. 1, going 4-0, while adding eight wins at No. 2 during the year. 

The eight All-Conference selections is the second most in program history after last year's record-setting nine picks. Mary Washington was second in the league with six different players represented. 

The Captains will learn their first round opponent and tournament location on Monday, May 8, as they prepare to make the program's second NCAA Tournament appearance next weekend, from May 12-14. The first-, second-, and third-rounds will be played as part of an eight-team pod at one site. The NCAA selection committee will announce the tournament bracket on NCAA.com. 

2017 CAC Player of the Year: Matt Miles, Mary Washington
2017 CAC Rookie of the Year: Michael Fleming, Mary Washington
2017 CAC Coach of the Year: Eric Christiansen, Christopher Newport

First Team Singles

NAME	YR.	POS.	TEAM	HOMETOWN/HS	PREVIOUS ALL-CAC HONORS
Justin Cerny	Jr.	2nd	Christopher Newport	Richmond, Va. / Trinity Episcopal	2nd in '16, 1st in '15
Michael Fleming	Fr.	3rd	Mary Washington	Roanoke, Va. / North Cross
Patrick Hughes	So.	2nd	Mary Washington	Vienna, Va. / Bishop O' Connell	1st in '16
Matt Miles	So.	1st	Mary Washington	Harrison, N.Y. / Harrison	1st in '16
David Reed	Jr.	1st	Christopher Newport	Easley, S.C. / St. Joseph's	ROY in '15
Colt Williamson	Fr.	1st	Salisbury	Harrington, Del. / Milford

Second Team Singles

NAME	YR.	POS.	TEAM	HOMETOWN/HS	PREVIOUS ALL-CAC HONORS
Jonathan Gorel	Fr.	1st	St. Mary's	Jessup, Md. / Hammond
Ian Siew	Fr.	2nd	Salisbury	Ellicott City, Md. / Homeschooled
Andy Mason	Fr.	3rd	Christopher Newport	Franklin, Va. / Homeschooled
Dominic Lacombe	Fr.	4th	Christopher Newport	Montreal, Quebec / Armbrae Academy
Derek Hagino	So.	5th	Mary Washington	Landisville, Pa. / Hempfield	1st in '16
Nick Ruzicka	So.	6th	Christopher Newport	Spicewood, Texas / Lake Travis

First Team Doubles

NAME	YR.	POS.	TEAM	HOMETOWN/HS	PREVIOUS ALL-CAC HONORS
Justin Cerny	Jr.	1st	Christopher Newport	Richmond, Va. / Trinity Episcopal	2nd in '16
David Reed	Jr.	1st	Christopher Newport	Easley, S.C. / St. Joseph's	2nd in '16
Michael Fleming	Fr.	1st	Mary Washington	Roanoke, Va. / North Cross
Ryland Byrd	Fr.	1st	Mary Washington	Jonesborough, Tenn. / Science Hill
Derek Hagino	So.	2nd	Mary Washington	Landisville, Pa. / Hempfield
Matt Miles	So.	2nd	Mary Washington	Harrison, N.Y. / Harrison	2nd in '16

Second Team Doubles

NAME	YR.	POS.	TEAM	HOMETOWN/HS	PREVIOUS ALL-CAC HONORS
Patrick MacLean	Fr.	1st	Salisbury	Crownsville, Md. / Mount Saint Joseph
Colt Williamson	Fr.	1st	Salisbury	Harrington, Del. / Milford
Andy Mason	Fr.	2nd	Christopher Newport	Franklin, Va. / Homeschooled
William Trang	So.	2nd	Christopher Newport	Staten Island, N.Y. / Brooklyn Technical	2nd in '16
Michael Dodd	Sr.	3rd	Christopher Newport	Lubbock, Texas / Lubbock
Arttu Fiva	Sr.	3rd	Christopher Newport	Ylitornio, Finland / Ounasvaaran Urheilulukio	2nd in '16, 2nd in '15