Texas Tech University Athletics
Siegel, Ferreira And Escobar Win ITA Regional Awards
May 15, 2012 | Men's Tennis
Marcelo Ferreira (left) and Tim Siegel were each named coach of the year by the ITA.
May 15, 2012
LUBBOCK, Texas - The Intercollegiate Tennis Association has announced its 2012 regional award winners and Texas Tech saw three members of the Red Raider squad earn four honors.
Texas Tech head coach Tim Siegel was named the ITA Texas Region Coach of the Year, while the ITA honored assistant coach Marcelo Ferreira as the ITA Assistant Coach of the Year. Senior Gonzalo Escobar was honored with the Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award and the ITA/Rafael Osuna Sportsmanship Award.
Siegel, who is in his 20th season at the helm of the Red Raider program, has earned his third regional honor. The Texas Tech mentor was the ITA South Central Regional Coach of the Year in 2005 and 2008. He is also a two-time Big 12 Coach of the Year honoree. This season, Siegel has guided the Red Raiders to a 16-9 finish and a second place finish in the Big 12 Conference. He helped Texas Tech complete the sweep of Texas, Texas A&M and Baylor for the first time in school history. Siegel is 281-209 in 20 seasons as the Red Raid head coach. Overall, Siegel is 334-272 as a head coach.
Ferreira, who is in his fifth season at Texas Tech, won his second ITA Texas Region Assistant Coach of the Year honor. It is the second time Ferreira, a native of Brazil, has won the award. He was also honored in 2010. Since arriving at Texas Tech, Ferreira has helped the Red Raiders blossom into the most successful five-year period in men's tennis history. The Red Raiders are 88-43 since the Brazilian joined the staff.
Escobar, a senior from Manta, Ecuador, was awarded the ITA Texas Region Arthur Ash Leadership & Sportsmanship Award and the ITA/Rafael Osuna Sportsmanship Award. He is the all-time winningest player in the history of Texas Tech. Escobar has a career record of 97-49 in singles and 78-40 in doubles. He has been ranked the entire season in singles and is currently No. 40 in the nation. Teamed with senior Raony Carvalho, Escobar is 10-1 in doubles and ranked No. 18. Overall, he is 18-9 in doubles this season. Escobar is the first Red Raider to win either regional award.
Escobar and Carvalho will return to action next week at the NCAA Individual Doubles Championships in Athens, Ga., as one of the nation's top 32 doubles tandems. Escobar has also been invited to participate in the NCAA Individual Singles Championships, which will feature the Top 64 student-athletes in the nation.
Players Mentioned
