Botelho, Saunders honored as All-SAC First Team doubles pair

ROCK HILL, S.C. – After posting a doubles record of 15-7, sophomore duo Vinicius Botelho and Michael Saunders were named to the All-South Atlantic Conference First Team as a doubles team and as All-SAC Second Team selections in singles action, the conference announced on Tuesday.

In doubles play Botelho (Fortaleza, Brazil) and Saunders (Christchurch, New Zealand) finished the SAC schedule with a 7-2 record at No. 1 doubles, including posting victories over the other two doubles teams named to the All-SAC First Team.

Botelho tallied a 17-5 record at No. 2 singles for the Wolves, and finished the regular season with a 6-3 mark in SAC action.

Saunders doubled his win total from a season ago finishing the regular season with a record of 16-8 and posting a 5-4 record in SAC play. Saunders’ signature win in 2012 came in a three-set victory over regionally ranked Stan Atema of Anderson, Atema was named to the All-SAC First Team.

The Wolves next play on Thursday in Rock Hill against Tusculum in the first round of the South Atlantic Conference Tournament.

SAC Player of the Year:  Sam MacNeil, BC
SAC Freshman of the Year:  Lukas Winkelmann, TC
SAC Coach of the Year:  Michael Cabana

2012 All-SAC Men’s Tennis Team

First Team
Singles
Sam MacNeil, BC
Phillip Hoffman, LMU
Stan Atema, AU
Flavio Rathsam, WU
Beau Wills, BC
Drew Owen, WU

Doubles
Sam MacNeil/Beau Wills, BC
Michael Saunders/Vinicius Botelho, NEW
Phillip Hoffman/Tom Goossens, LMU

Second Team
Singles
Michael Saunders, NEW
Lukas Winkelmann, TC
Matt Lichtenstein, WU
Lucas Simm, MHC
Euquerio Guerrero, MHC
Vinicius Botelho, NEW

Doubles
Flavio Rathsam/Neal Towlson, WU
Stan Atema/Daniel Gonzales, AU
Euquerio Guerrero/Enrico Patriarca, MHC*
Lucas Simm/Guilherme Lima, MHC*
* tied for final second-team doubles selection