FRISCO, Texas – Lamar University junior Michael Feucht has been named Southland Conference Player of the Year announced league officials Thursday afternoon. In addition to Feucht's honor, LU head coach Scott Shankles has been named Southland Men's Tennis Coach of the Year.
 
Feucht and Shankles highlight an all-conference team dominated by the Red and White. LU had seven individuals earn postseason honors, including all six of its regular starters. LU had four first-team selections in singles as well as four first-team honorees in doubles.
 
"I'm very happy for these young men," said Shankles. "They worked very hard this season to improve their games. They put their focus on one thing and that was to bring a conference title back to Beaumont. It's nice to see these guys recognized by the conference for their work. I could not be more proud of them."
 
Feucht becomes the third Cardinal in the history of the program to be named Southland Player of the Year, and the first since Filip Kanczula in 2008.
 
"This is a tremendous honor for Michael," said Shankles. "He went undefeated in (conference) singles, and played against some great opponents. Last year he was the student-athlete of the year, and this year he adds to that with an honor for his on the court achievements. I'm happy he received the honor."
 
Shankles' coach of the year honor ends a streak of nine consecutive won by Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. It is the fifth time an LU coach has been named SLC Men's Coach of the Year, but the first time since Ron Wesbrooks received the honor in 1982.
 
"This is a team award," said Shankles. "The players are the ones who put in all of the work. They stepped up in the pressure situations to bring home the first regular-season title in nearly 40 years. They deserve all of the credit. I just happen to be the beneficiary of their hard work."
 
Feucht took first-team honors at No. 1 singles. He was joined on the first team by sophomore Benny Schweizer (No. 4 singles), juniors Jeandre Hoogenboezem (No. 5) and Juuso Laitinen (No. 6). Classmate Nikita Lis garnered second-team recognition at No. 2 singles.
 
Feucht and Schweizer also locked up first-team All-SLC honors at No. 1 doubles, while Lis garnered a first-team nod with partner Hoogenboezem at line two. The duo of Laitinen and freshman Sebastian Santibanez earned second-team all-conference honors at No. 3 doubles.
 
Feucht dominated the league by going 13-5 (.722) at No. 1 singles during the spring, while posting a perfect 4-0 record in league matches. He enters the Southland Championships having won six straight and seven of his last nine matches. Along with Schweizer, the duo posted an 11-4 (.733) record in doubles play, including a near perfect 6-2 (.750) mark at the No. 1 position. Schweizer – last year's SLC Freshman of the Year – went 13-6 (.684) in singles play, including a 4-1 (.800) tally in conference matches.
 
Lis was 10-7 (.588) at No. 2 singles during the 2016 campaign, and posted a 4-1 (.800) record in conference matches, which included a straight-sets victory over the league's first-team selection at the position to help Big Red lay claim to its first SLC regular season title in 40 years. Lis, and No. 2 doubles partner, Hoogenboezem, were undefeated in conference play (4-0) and finished the year with an 11-7 (.611) record, including an 8-1 (.889) mark at the No. 2 spot. Hoogenboezem was a perfect 5-0 during conference play which included a 12-6 (.667) overall record.
 
Laitinen was a near perfect 10-2 (.833) on the season with all 12 matches coming at No. 6 singles. He enters the Southland tournament having won eight consecutive. He teamed up with Santibanez to record an 8-7 (.533) record at No. 3 doubles, including a 3-1 (.750) mark in Southland play.
 
The Cardinals will look to turn that regular-season title into a tournament title beginning Saturday when they open play in the semifinals of the SLC Championships. Big Red will square off against No. 4 seed Nicholls at 10 a.m. from the Schlief Family Tennis Center in Nacogdoches, Texas.
 
-LU CARDINALS-