Little East Conference Men's Tennis All-Conference Team Announced

Western's Troy Pandolfi named Player of the Year... Pandolfi and Austin Werner named to First Team while Kyle Wilson garners Second-Team honors

official release from Jack Holleran - LEC Director of Communications

NORTH DARTMOUTH, MA (May 8) — Western Connecticut State University senior Troy Pandolifi (Danbury, Conn.) reclaimed the Little East Conference Player of the Year Award this afternoon when the conference office announced its annual men's tennis awards program. University of Massachusetts Boston freshman David Hernandez (Bogota, Columbia) was selected as the Rookie of the Year Award, while Bridgewater State's Barry Gorman was named Coach of the Year by his peers. Rhode Island College closed out the major awards as the Team Sportsmanship Award recipient.

In addition to the major award winners, the conference office honored a 12-member first and second team. The six Little East coaches selected the major award winners through a vote, while the all-conference teams were determined by results in conference during the course of the season.

Pandolifi made his second appearance as the top player in the Little East winning the award in 2010. The senior from Danbury, Conn. also earned a spot on the All-Little East, first-team. In 2011, the senior from Danbury, Conn. was the 2011 All-LEC , top-flight singles second team. As a member of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth squad in 2009, Pandolifi was honored by the conference as the Rookie of the Year.

Pandolifi led the Colonials to the No. 3 seed in the league playoffs by posting a 5-1 record a top-flight singles, breaking the tie with the 2011 LEC Player of the Year, Karsten Rathlev with an epic win on April 28, winning 4-6, 6-2, 10-8. Rathlev, second team all-conference at top-flight singles, and Pandolifi have claimed the top player honors in the league over the past three seasons.

Hernandez led the UMass Boston program from the top-flight singles position, recording a 4-2 record in the conference. One of Hernandez' triumphs in 2012 came against the conference player of the year, Pandolifi, 7-6, 1-6, 10-8 on April 21. The native of Bogota, Columbia teamed up with sophomore Charles Lai (Boston, Mass.) at No. 1 doubles to claim second team top-flight doubles honors. Hernandez was tabbed as the conference rookie of the week twice, including player and rookie of the week honors on April 23.

Gorman led Bridgewater State to a 4-2 mark in conference play and 9-6 overall. The Bears earned the second seed in the conference championship tournament and advanced to the final. Gorman took over a head coach of the men's tennis program following a 2008 campaign, in which he captured the second-flight singles title at the LEC men's tennis championship. Under Gorman's reign, the Bears have posted nine or more wins in three out of his first four years. He is no stranger to coach of the year honors as Gorman was named top mentor in women's tennis for his efforts in 2010.

Formed in 1986, the Little East serves as New England's premier athletic conference for public institutions in NCAA Division III. Featuring 19 championship sports, the Little East sponsors quality competition in every season for our student athletes. Our eight state colleges and universities dedicate themselves to an ongoing fulfillment of the Division III mission of passion, responsibility, sportsmanship, and citizenship.