CAA selects UNCW’s De Rueda as top performer

WILMINGTON, North Carolina (UNCWSports.com) – Sophomore Ignasi de Rueda has been named the Most Outstanding Performer (MOP) at the recent Colonial Athletic Association Men’s Tennis Championships, the league announced early Tuesday.

De Rueda, from Barcelona, Spain, was selected as the top performer by the CAA’s head coaches after leading the Seahawks to their sixth CAA title in Elon, N.C. The talented Spaniard won all six of his matches in the event – three singles and three doubles – as the Seahawks captured their sixth conference title in the last decade.

De Rueda downed Charleston’s Ryan Kahn, 6-1, 6-2, to secure the Seahawks’ 4-0 victory in the quarterfinals. He then topped Elon’s Kyle Frankel, 6-4, 6-1, in UNCW’s 4-1 semifinal triumph over the Phoenix before capping the weekend by edging William & Mary’s Louis Newman, 7-6 (3), 7-5 to clinch a 4-2 win over the Tribe in the championship match.

“We’re very proud of Ignasi and his performance this year at the CAA tourney,” said Mait DuBois, UNCW’s 11^th-year head coach. “For him to go 6-0 against three quality teams as well as clinching the deciding match is pretty impressive.

“He was actually ill the last two matches and felt very bad that he couldn’t cheer and yell for his teammates as loud as he normally does. Ignasi has been a real rock for us all year and he and Raphael (Calzi) really got their doubles going down the stretch.”

De Rueda and Calzi also swept all three of their matches at No. 1 doubles during the tournament to help the Seahawks secure the doubles point in each contest.
It marks the fifth time a Seahawk has earned the MOP honor. Former standout Chris Cooprider collected the award twice in 2011 and 2013.

The Seahawks are making their seventh NCAA Regional appearance next weekend and will learn their opponent and destination during the NCAA’s Selection Show on Tuesday (May 1) at 5:30 p.m. via NCAA.com. The team will host a gathering in the Golden Hawk Room of the Nixon Annex to celebrate the occasion.

UNCW’s CAA Tournament Most Outstanding Performers