STATESBORO, Ga. – On Wednesday the Sun Belt Conference announced the 2018 End of Year awards. The Georgia Southern Eagles earned four awards for the 2018 season ranging along the first and second team awards. Stefano Di Aloy, Eddie Landin, Diego Finkelstein and head coach Sander Koning, all took home awards for the 2018 season.

"I am very proud of my team and what they have achieved this year," Head Coach Sander Koning said. "After a rocky start they made a decision to turn their season around. They did this through hard work and supporting each other. I believe Eddie was our catalyst after we went 1-8 to start the season. He got the team to follow his lead and he deserves all the credit for it. It is fun to see all his dedication to Georgia Southern and this program be rewarded with something that no one will be able to take away."

Stefano Di Aloy added to his list of conference accomplishments with a First Team All-Sun Belt Singles award. The sophomore compiled an 11-8 record in singles play and held a six match winning streak during the month of March.

"Stefano has been a force for us at the No. 1 spot, especially late in the season when we played against conference opponents," Koning added. "He is a lot of fun to watch, because he can play great tennis, but he also shows a lot of emotion and physicality when he plays. I am happy he got the recognition throughout our conference."

Eddie Landin collected two awards, after finishing the 2018 season second on the all-time win list for singles and doubles play. Landin was able to collect a Second Team All-Sun Belt Singles and was on the Second Team All-Sun Belt Doubles award with Diego Finkelstein. The two of them combined for an 11-4 record and carried a nine match winning streak during the month of March, a time where the Eagles won 10 straight matches.

"Diego and Eddie have been a very solid doubles team, who got us a lot of doubles points. They had a lot of chemistry together and it shows in their results. It's a great honor for them." Koning continued.

Head Coach Sander Koning earned his first Sun Belt Coach of the Year Award after finishing the season 13-12 and returning the Eagles to the conference tournament as a No. 5 seed. Koning was named Co-Coach of the Year with rival head coach Jonathan Wolff from Georgia State. Coach Koning has recorded a 55-46 record through the end of the 2018 regular season in his four years with the Eagles.

"I am very humbled by the award given to me. I want to thank my team, because without them this would not be possible. I would also like to thank my fellow coaches who voted for me." Koning concluded.

The Blue and White head to Peachtree City as a No. 5 seed and will be looking for revenge, Friday at 3:00 p.m. against Troy.
 
2017-18 SUN BELT MEN'S TENNIS POSTSEASON AWARDS
All-Sun Belt First Team
Singles
Scott Webster, Appalachian State (Sr., Perth, Australia)
Stefano Di Aloy, Georgia Southern (So., Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Andrei Andrukhou, Georgia State (Sr., Minsk, Belarus)
Loic Cloes, South Alabama (So., Oreye, Belgium)
Clement Marzol, South Alabama (So., Toulouse, France)
Guanarteme Nuez, UTA (Jr., Las Palmas, Spain)
 
Doubles
Scott Webster (Sr., Perth, Australia) and Milo Bargeron (So., Chislehurst, England), Appalachian State
Loic Cloes (So., Oreye, Belgium) and Clement Marzol (So., Toulouse, France), South Alabama
Mauricio Del Rio (Jr., Irapuato, Mexico) and Guanarteme Nuez (Jr., Las Palmas, Spain), UTA
 
All-Sun Belt Second Team
Singles
Eddie Landin, Georgia Southern (Sr., Los Cabos, Mexico)
Sebastian Acuna, Georgia State (Sr., Miami, Fla.)
Giles Hussey, Georgia State (Jr., Swindon, England)
Elio Lago, Louisiana (So., Fortaleza, Brazil)
Mauricio del Rio, UTA (Jr., Irapuato, Mexico)
Enrique Pardo, UTA (Jr., Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain)
 
Doubles
Eddie Landin (Sr., Los Cabos, Mexico) and Diego Finkelstein (So., Sao Paulo, Brazil), Georgia Southern
Sebastian Acuna (Sr., Miami, Fla.) and Andrei Duarte (Fr., Atlanta, Ga.), Georgia State
Pierce Gilheany (Fr., Melbourne, Australia) and Pearse Dolan (So., Sydney, Australia), Louisiana
 
Player of the Year
Guanarteme Nuez, UTA (Jr., Las Palmas, Spain)
 
Player to Watch
Loic Cloes, South Alabama (So., Oreye, Belgium)
 
Newcomer of the Year
Enrique Pardo, UTA (Jr., Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain)
 
Freshman of the Year
Pelayo Antuña, Troy (Fr., Gijon, Spain)
 
Co-Coaches of the Year
Sander Koning, Georgia Southern
Jonathan Wolff, Georgia State