Bulldog Tennis Honored With Three ITA Southern Region Awards
Also the SEC Freshman of the Year, Stropp has been one of top rookies in nation in 2011. A four-time SEC Freshman of the Week, he went 25-6 in singles, 17-3 in dual matches, and was a stellar 9-1 in SEC play this season, playing mainly at the No. 4 position. The Dusseldorf, Germany, native has been ranked as high as 89th in the country in singles and 33rd in doubles with Louis Cant.
The rookie posted MSU's best winning percentage in dual matches (.850) in 2011 and won 12 consecutive contests at one point. Stropp also clinched a team-best four matches for State this season, including MSU's big home wins over #4 Tennessee and rival Ole Miss.
The Lund, Sweden, native Nilsson, in his fourth season as State's head coach, led Mississippi State back to familiar territory in 2011. The Bulldogs, which earned their 20th selection to the NCAA Championship, posted their best record overall (14-9) and in the SEC (8-3) since 1998's NCAA semifinal team went 21-5 and 9-2 in the league. State advanced to the second round of this year's NCAA Championship, and eight of MSU's nine losses this season came to teams which have advanced to the 2011 NCAA round of 16.
Under Nilsson's guidance, MSU also claimed its first SEC Western Division crown (since the league went to divisions in 2002), finishing two matches better than its nearest competition in the division. State has also been ranked as high as 19th nationally this spring, the best by the program since 2005.
Hill, a product of Holt, Mich., Hill has been a very important part of the resurgence the Mississippi State men's tennis program realized this season, truly the product of four years of hard work since he joined forces with Nilsson in 2008. Hill has aided Nilsson in recruiting the players which have led the Bulldogs back into the top 20 nationally for the first time in six years and the SEC West title for the first time ever.
Team chemistry has been a huge part of that success and Hill has played a tremendous role in building that bond between the Bulldog players and coaches, and has been exceptional in the development of MSU's players. He has also spearheaded promotions for the program which have led to capacity crowds at MSU's A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre during the past two years.
"Malte was one of the best rookies in the country this year. His award is no surprise after the outstanding season he has had," Nilsson said. "I'm humbled to be named the regional coach of the year and there is no question that Matt is deserving of his award for what he does for our program."
As ITA regional award winners, all three individuals will be considered for the ITA National Awards in their respective categories. Those awards will be announced May 24.