Mercer Rakes In Lion’s Share Of SoCon Postseason Awards
4/16/2025 8:49:00 PM | Men's Tennis
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Two singles players and a pair of doubles teams were both decorated with All-Southern Conference accolades, while junior Nemanja Stefanovic and skipper Eric Hayes were crowned SoCon Player and Coach of the Year, respectively, as the Mercer men's tennis team walked away with a big haul at the league's annual awards ceremony on Wednesday.
Newcomer Isak Padio Hod'Abalo joined Stefanovic on the first team all-league singles squad, and both players also picked up additional laurels as part of All-SoCon doubles teams. Hod'Abalo and No. 1 doubles partner Amen Prince Gandonou were both recognized on the first team, while Stefanovic and No. 2 doubles partner Marceau Fouilhoux were listed as part of the Second Team All-Conference squads.
Stefanovic etched his name in the program's record books as just the second player to earn SoCon Player of the Year honors, and the first to accomplish that task since former MU standout Olivier Stuart notched the accolade to culminate the 2019 campaign. It is the second SoCon Coach of the Year honor for Hayes who also took home the award following a 16-win campaign (5-1 SoCon) in 2018.
Stefanovic has racked up a career-best 20 victories this season, including six against SoCon competition, while compiling an 11-6 clip at No. 1 singles. Padio, likewise, registered an 11-6 record at No. 2 singles during the spring portion of the 2024-25 season and will take a team-best 22 singles wins into SoCon Tournament play on Thursday.
The doubles tandem of Padio/Gandenou led the Orange & Black with a 10-7 record during the spring dual season and notched four wins inside league play. Fouilhoux/Stefanovic went unbeaten (7-0) against SoCon foes and finished the regular season with a 23-7 record, including 13 wins amid spring competition.
Second-seeded Mercer (11-7, 6-1 SoCon)) will battle seventh-seeded Wofford (6-12, 1-6) in Thursday's quarterfinal round at the Southern Conference Tournament in Chattanooga, Tenn. First serves are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. at Champions Club.
Newcomer Isak Padio Hod'Abalo joined Stefanovic on the first team all-league singles squad, and both players also picked up additional laurels as part of All-SoCon doubles teams. Hod'Abalo and No. 1 doubles partner Amen Prince Gandonou were both recognized on the first team, while Stefanovic and No. 2 doubles partner Marceau Fouilhoux were listed as part of the Second Team All-Conference squads.
Stefanovic etched his name in the program's record books as just the second player to earn SoCon Player of the Year honors, and the first to accomplish that task since former MU standout Olivier Stuart notched the accolade to culminate the 2019 campaign. It is the second SoCon Coach of the Year honor for Hayes who also took home the award following a 16-win campaign (5-1 SoCon) in 2018.
Stefanovic has racked up a career-best 20 victories this season, including six against SoCon competition, while compiling an 11-6 clip at No. 1 singles. Padio, likewise, registered an 11-6 record at No. 2 singles during the spring portion of the 2024-25 season and will take a team-best 22 singles wins into SoCon Tournament play on Thursday.
The doubles tandem of Padio/Gandenou led the Orange & Black with a 10-7 record during the spring dual season and notched four wins inside league play. Fouilhoux/Stefanovic went unbeaten (7-0) against SoCon foes and finished the regular season with a 23-7 record, including 13 wins amid spring competition.
Second-seeded Mercer (11-7, 6-1 SoCon)) will battle seventh-seeded Wofford (6-12, 1-6) in Thursday's quarterfinal round at the Southern Conference Tournament in Chattanooga, Tenn. First serves are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. at Champions Club.
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