Temple University Athletics
Pair Of Freshman Earn All-Atlantic 10 Honors
5.12.09 | Men's Tennis
May 12, 2009
PHILADELPHIA - A pair of Temple freshmen, Filip Rams and Dmitry Vizhunov, have been named to the All-Atlantic 10 Men's Tennis First Team, in voting conducted by the league's head coaches. They are the first TU freshmen to earn all-conference honors since Pero Pivcevic in 1997. Senior Nathan Spunda was named to the academic all-conference team.
"Temple tennis is honored to have both Filip and Dmitry on the all-conference first team," head coach Steve Mauro said. "Both had terric rookie seasons and represented Temple very well. It is very difficult for freshman to receive such a award and we're looking forward from great things from both of them in the future."
Rams had an outstanding debut for the Cherry and White, compiling a team and conference best 23 wins while playing primarily in the #1 and #2 singles spots. After an 11-3 fall record, the Katowice, Poland native was 12-6 in the spring, going 6-4 at #1 and 5-1 at #2 singles.
In doubles, he teamed primarily with senior Eduardo Saavedra to go 19-9, including 11-7 at the #1 spot. Rams was a four-time A-10 Rookie of the Week and two-time Performer of the Week.
Vizhunov also played well, going 22-11 including 17-7 this spring. He was a perfect 7-0 at #3 singles and also was 9-2 at #4. The Sochi, Russia native won 13 of his final 14 matches beginning on February 21.
The freshman played primarily with Spunda at #3 doubles, recording a 13-6 mark this spring. He was a two-time A-10 Rookie of the Week.
Spunda earned academic all-conference honors for the first time in his career and the first time for Temple since Jenson Bascome in 2001. Spunda went 18-14 this season, including 12-10 in the spring. He played primarily #1 through #3 singles, going 5-3 at #1 and 4-4 at #2.
A journalism and photography major, Spunda carries a 3.43 grade point average.
"Nate finished off a strong career at Temple," Mauro said. "He proved that he is not only a good player on the court, but in the classroom as well. We wish Nathan the best of luck in his future endeavors."
Temple was 14-10 this season and finished sixth at the Atlantic 10 Championship. The Owls return five letterwinners under Mauro.
For the second consecutive year, Xavier's Doug Matthews has been tabbed the Atlantic 10's men's tennis Most Outstanding Performer in voting conducted among the Conference's head coaches.
In that same vote, Ugur Atalay of George Washington was named Most Outstanding Rookie Performer and Xavier head coach Eric Toth garnered Coach of the Year distinction. Sophomore Mikhail Sudakov of St. Bonaventure was selected as the Student-Athlete of the Year in a separate vote of the Conference's sports information directors.
