ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The 2015 Intercollegiate Tennis Association Regional awards were announced on Tuesday morning and three different Lobos received honors.
ITA Mountain Regional Assistant Coach of the Year: Ben Dunbar
University of New Mexico men’s tennis assistant coach Ben Dunbar has been selected as the 2015 ITA Mountain Region Men’s Tennis Assistant Coach of the Year. Dunbar and head coach Bart Scott guided the Lobos to a successful 2014-15 season with many notable accomplishments, especially being that it was only Dunbar’s first year as assistant coach and Scott’s first year as head coach. The Lobos finished the season with a 20-11 record, claimed the Mountain West Regular Season Championship title, and made their first NCAA appearance since 2009. Additionally, UNM tallied a 7-2 MW record, went 6-4 against ranked opponents, and won 16 of its last 20 matches.
Dunbar, who played at UNM under Alan Dils and Scott from 2008-2012, is the third assistant coach in program history to receive the award. Loren Dils claimed the honor in 2000, 2003, 2005, and 2008 while Scott earned the award in 2012.
“Ben is a passionate young coach who is knowledgeable beyond his years,” head coach Bart Scott said. “To win this in his first year is a testament to his dedication to his craft. He has a bright future ahead of him and this award is well deserved.”
ITA Player to Watch: Hayden Sabatka
Sophomore Hayden Sabatka has been named the 2015 Mountain Region Player to Watch. Sabatka, who competed in the No. 1 and No. 2 singles spots for the Lobos, finished the season with a 16-16 overall singles record, 17-8 doubles record. Sabatka is a two-time Mountain West all-conference singles honoree, a MW all-conference doubles honoree with Bart Van Leijsen, and a two-time MW Player of the Week honoree. Sabatka and Van Leijsen were ranked as high as No. 51 in the ITA doubles rankings this season.
Sabatka is the third Lobo in program history to receive the Player to Watch honor. Pepe Caballero earned the award in 1999 while Jadon Phillips claimed the award in 2011.
“Hayden being honored as the Mountain Region Player to Watch is more validation for Hayden that he can not only compete at this level, but he can also be very successful,” Scott said. “If he continues to buy in and work hard, he has the potential to be a top-50 college tennis player and it seems that the coaches agree! Hopefully this will motivate Hayden to work even harder this summer.”
ITA Rookie of the Year: Bart Van Leijsen
Bart Van Leijsen has been named the 2015 Mountain Regional Rookie of the Year. Van Leijsen had a standout season for a freshman and it is certainly being recognized. Van Leijsen, who also won the MW Freshman of the Year award last month, wrapped up the year with 18-11 singles record, 23-8 doubles record. In October, Van Leijsen became the first UNM men’s tennis player to reach a regional championship match as a freshman as he reached the final doubles match of the USTA/ITA Mountain Regionals with teammate James Hignett. Van Leijsen received all-conference honors for his success in doubles play with Sabatka during the spring season.
Van Leijsen is the second Lobo in program history to receive an ITA honor for having a standout freshman season. Johnny Parkes, current volunteer assistant for the team, earned the award in 2006.
“Bart winning the Rookie of the Year award for the Mountain Region is just icing on the cake on what’s been a fantastic season for Bart,” Scott said. “He had a great fall and overall a very solid spring. Like Hayden, my hope is that this will only serve to motivate Bart to stay hungry for even more. He plans on playing several tournaments in the Netherlands this summer, so I’m sure he’ll come back in peak condition to start his sophomore campaign. He has been a good leader and a pleasure to have on the team!”
COMPLETE LIST OF ITA REGIONAL HONORS
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