Kuhar highlights nine all-conference selections as NEC Player of the Year; Gendron named NEC Coach of the Year

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Reflecting the success of the season, the Bryant University men's tennis team claimed five First Team All-NEC recognitions and four Second Team All-NEC nods, while taking home two major awards, as redshirt sophomore Matt Kuhar (Smithfield, R.I.) earned the program's first-ever NEC Player of the Year award, while head coach Ron Gendron took home his fifth-straight NEC Coach of the Year honor.  

Gendron receives his fifth-straight coach of the year recognition after helping the Bulldogs post a 12-13 overall record and 4-0 conference mark, as the Bulldogs won their fourth-straight NEC Title. The four-peat also marks the program's fourth-straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament, where the Bulldogs will take on No. 14 Oklahoma in this year's big dance. Gendron is the first coach in league records to be named NEC Coach of the Year five-straight times and is one behind Fairleigh Dickinson's Ira Miller for the most all-time NEC Coach of the Year honors.

Kuhar, who was named NEC Rookie of the Year in his last active season, returned from injury to claim the program's first-ever NEC Player of the Year award. The first teamer at No. 1 singles, went 12-3, entering the NCAA Tournament on a seven-match winning streak. The redshirt sophomore posted a 19-6 overall record and perfect mark in NEC play. The 12 wins tied for the most in the NEC in the No. 1 spot and his 19 total victories ranks third on the circuit. Kuhar was the sole Bulldog to reach the ITA round of 32 in the fall and became the most decorated player this season, earning two NEC Player of the Week honors and two NEC Player of the Month accolades. Kuhar's career singles record stands at 37-15, and he is 9-1 lifetime against league rivals.

Kuhar partnered with junior Luke Lorenz (Colorado Springs, Colo.) to earn the Bulldogs' only first team doubles recognition, receiving the award at No. 1 doubles after posting a 9-7 overall record and 5-0 mark in league play. Lorenz earned his third-straight NEC honors, after being named Second Team All-NEC at No. 2 singles.

Sophomore Artur Jakubowski (Dallas, Texas) received his second-straight NEC First Team nod, this year at No. 3 singles, posting a 4-0 mark against conference opponents. Jakubowski joined classmate Michael Plutt (Weston, Fla.) in being named to Second Team All-NEC at No. 3 doubles. The sophomore duo went 6-2 overall and 4-1 against league foes. Plutt joined Lorenz on the Second Team All-NEC ballot, claiming the honor in the fifth flight. Plutt went 4-2 at No. 5 singles, posting a 4-1 NEC record. As a freshman, Plutt was named to the NEC First Team at No. 4 singles and NEC Second Team at No. 1 doubles.

Repeating as the first-teamer at No. 6 singles, junior Jorge Ortiz-Garcia (Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico) earned the accolade after holding a 4-2 record in the sixth flight. He enters the NCAA Tournament on a two-match winning streak. The junior joined classmate Josh Kliger (Newport Beach, Calif.) to take home Second Team All-NEC honors at No. 2 doubles. The pair finished the season at 6-8, going 2-3 in league play.

Rounding out the Bulldogs' award winners, freshman Guido Argentini (Boca Raton, Fla.) earned All-NEC First Team at No. 4 singles, as well as making the NEC All-Rookie Team in the same flight. Argentini posted an 11-9 overall record and 3-1 mark at four, entering the big dance on a four-match winning streak.

The Bulldogs were the only team to have every player from its NEC Tournament starting lineup named to the All-NEC singles and doubles teams.