Malobicky, Tarangioli and Grubin Sweep ECC Awards

04/22/2009

Malobicky, Tarangioli and Grubin Sweep ECC Awards

Bronxville, NY - As the semi-finals of the East Coast Conference Men's Tennis Championships concluded, the 2009 All-Conference Awards were handed out and as the smoke cleared, the Clippers walked away with ECC Player of the year, ECC Rookie of the Year and ECC Coach of the Year honors. The Clippers also placed a total of 5 players on the ECC All-Conference First and Second Teams.

Sophomore Alex Grubin (Belgrade, Serbia) was voted the ECC Men's Tennis Player of the Year after a stellar regular season that resulted in a 28-1 overall singles record and a 27-2 doubles record. Grubin is the No. 1 ranked NCAA Division II Men's Tennis Player in the Nation. Grubin won the No. 1 flight championship in both the Army Invitational and The Scott Satran Memorial Tournament back in September. The sophomore also won a showdown with the No. 2 ranked player in NCAA Division II Men's Tennis, Edualdo Bonet from the defending National Champion Pirates of Armstrong Atlantic, 6-4, 6-3. Grubin was also placed on the ECC All-Conference First Team.

Freshman Andrey Boldarev (Tashkent, Uzbekistan) has been named ECC Men's Tennis Rookie of the Year and has posted a 23-3 singles record this season. Boldarev took the No. 2 singles flight at the Army Invitational and the No. 3 singles flight at The Scott Satran memorial Tournament. In doubles play, Boldarev went 19-4 during the regular season. Boldarev and Grubin team together at No. 1 doubles are ranked No. 24 in Division II Men's Tennis. Bolarev was also placed on the ECC All-Conference First Team.

Neil Tarangioli is in his 27th season coaching the men's tennis team at Concordia College. The Clippers won their 11th straight ECC Men's Tennis Tournament Championship yesterday and 17th in the last 19 seasons. Tarangioli has guided the Clippers to the NCAA Men's Tennis Round of 16 in each of the last 4 seasons.

Sophomore Richi Malobicky (Pulheim, Germany) was named to the ECC All-Conference First Team and recorded a 23-5 singles record and a 26-2 doubles record during the regular season. Malobicky reached the finals of the No. 2 flight in the Army Invitational, where he lost to teammate Boldarev. Malobicky captured the No. 4 singles flight at The Scott Satran Memorial Tournament and teamed with Grubin to come in 3rd place at the ITA National Small College Championships in Alabama this past October. Malobicky is currently the No. 3 ranked singles player in the NCAA East Region.

Junior Henning Ruenz (Muelheim-Kaerlich, Germany) was voted to the ECC All-Conference Second Team. Ruenz compiled an impressive 18-3 regular season singles record and a 21-2 doubles record. Ruenz, along with Malobicky, took home the No. 2 doubles championship at The Scott Satran Memorial Tournament. Ruenz is currently ranked No. 11 in singles play in the NCAA East Region.

Freshman Viktor Kim (Tashkent, Uzbekistan) was voted to the ECC All-Conference Second Team and went 14-4 in singles play and 9-6 in doubles action this season. Kim is currently ranked No. 8 in the NCAA East Region.

2009 ECC All-Conference Teams

First Team

Andrey Boldarev, Concordia

David Burstein, Queens

Alex Grubin, Concordia

Richard Malobicky, Concordia

Fabio Minami, Queens

Sebastian Nieves, Adelphi

Second Team

Petr Grishchenko, Dowling

Danilo Hiraoka, Queens

Viktor Kim, Concordia

James Preston, Queens

Henning Ruenz, Concordia

Jesse Smith, Queens

Player of the Year:                Alex Grubin, Concordia

Rookie of the Year:               Andrey Boldarev, Concordia

Coach of the Year:                Neil Tarangioli, Concordia