Pierre Tafelski Garners First Team All-Atlantic Sun Honors
4/19/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
MACON, Ga.—Mercer senior Pierre Tafelski was tabbed as a men's tennis first team All-Conference player in an announcement made by the Atlantic Sun office Thursday.
"I am really pleased for Pierre, and after starting the season slow, he began putting in more time on his own and it paid off, " said head tennis coach Warren Woolfolk. "I always knew Pierre had this type potential, and to see him accomplish this award is really rewarding for our program."
The native of Nantes, France becomes the first Mercer men's player to be named to the all-conference team since Tobias Ohrstrom garnered second-team honors in 2007, and becomes the first Mercer men's team player to garner first-team honors since current Mercer head coach Warren Woolfolk joined that same elite company in 2006.
As a senior, Tafelski put together a solid campaign playing all 16 matches he participated in at the No. 1 singles position, finishing the season with a 10-6 mark.
He also produced an impressive 7-2 mark playing at the No. 1 position in A-Sun play this season. Among his seven victories were some noteworthy results, including wins over A-Sun Freshman of the Year Tianyu Bao (FGCU), 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 1-0 (12-10), and fellow all-league honorees Daniel Sotomarino (UNF) 6-2, 7-6 and Jesus Bandres (ETSU) 2-6, 6-3, 1-0, 10-6. In doubles play, Tafelski was 5-12 with Peter Tauchner, playing primarily the No. 3 position.
Joining Tafelski as members of the A-Sun First Team are: Jesus Bandres (ETSU), Daniel Sotomarino (UNF), Tianyu Bao (FGCU), Henrique Norbiato (Belmont), Sander Gille (ETSU), Maskim Levanovich (Stetson) and Ramiro Blanco (USC Upstate). Stetson's Levanovich was named the A-Sun Player of the Year.
In his two years with the Mercer men's tennis program, Tafelski has fashioned a 20-16 mark, playing all of his 36 matches at the No. 1 position. Prior to transferring to Mercer, Tafelski played two seasons at Ouachita Baptist University, where he helped his team to a No. 3 ranking in Division II, while also garnering all-conference honors.
Tafelski is scheduled to graduate on time this May with a degree in Business Management. Upon his graduation, Tafelski will continue his career playing in some professional circuit tournaments in Europe.
Players Mentioned
