WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – Virginia Tech's Mitch Harper highlights the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) University Division Men's Tennis All-State team as announced Wednesday, taking home the State Player of the Year award. Alexandre Ribeiro earns Second Team singles honors and joins teammate Henrik Korsgaard with First Team Doubles recognition.
Harper becomes the first Hokie to garner VaSID State Player of the Year honors. He finished the season ranked 27th nationally and owned 14 wins over nationally-ranked competition. Harper was an All-ACC First Team selection and qualified for the NCAA Singles Championship where he advanced to the second round. He capped off the year being named the ITA Atlantic Region Player to Watch. In addition he earns All-State First Team honors.
Ribeiro finished the season with an 18-5 record, including a 7-5 tally in the ACC. He clinched the winning point in the Hokies' 4-3 win over UVA, claiming a ranked win versus Aswin Lizen. In addition, Ribeiro scored critical points in close 4-3 wins over Clemson and No. 41 Louisville. He also had wins at the three in matches against No. 6 North Carolina and No. 10 Duke.
In doubles, Ribeiro joins Korsgaard on the first team. The pair qualified for NCAA after posting an 8-5 record this spring, including 5-4 at the one in the ACC. The duo helped Hokies secure the doubles points versus No. 10 Duke, No. 16 NC State and No. 43 Virginia. They picked up several ranked wins, including three versus tandems in the top-40 to finish the season ranked 57th.
The awards are voted on by the sports information directors around the state of Virginia.
VaSID All-State Men's Tennis Team, University Division
Player of the Year – Mitch Harper (Virginia Tech)
Rookie of the Year – Gianni Ross (Virginia)
Coach of the Year – Dominik Mueller (Old Dominion)
All-State First Team
Singles
Christian Cargill (William & Mary)
Mitch Harper (Virginia Tech)
Aziz Kijametovic (Old Dominion)
Aswin Lizen(Virginia)
Adam Moundir (Old Dominion)#
Carl Soderlund (Virginia)*
Doubles
Christian Cargill/Louis Newman (William & Mary)
Henrik Korsgaard/Alexandre Ribeiro (Virginia Tech)
Aswin Lizen/Gianni Ross (Virginia)
Paul Mendoza/Theophile Lanthiez (James Madison)
All-State Second Team
Singles
Amadeo Blasco (Longwood)*
Francois Musitelli (Old Dominion)
Arvid Noren (VCU)
Alexandre Ribeiro (Virginia Tech)
Vincent Schneider (Old Dominion)
Caleb Troy (Richmond)
Doubles
Amadeo Blasco/Raisei Sakai (Longwood)
Aziz Kijametovic/Francois Musitelli (Old Dominion)
Brenden Volk/Michael Chen (William & Mary)
# First Team in 2016 and 2017
* Second Team in 2017