Three Sooners Claim Five ITA Regional Honors

NORMAN -- Three Sooners earned five Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Central Region honors, the organization announced Tuesday.

These awards recognize excellence by coaches and players on the court and in their communities throughout the 2024-25 season.

Head Coach Nick Crowell was named the Coach of the Year after leading the Sooners through their inaugural season in the SEC and seeing a 15th consecutive NCAA tournament appearance. Crowell coached the team to 12 wins on their home courts, hosted ITA Kickoff Weekend and advanced to the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament.

Junior Luis Alvarez claimed three regional honors, including the Rafael Osuna Sportsmanship award, Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship award and the Player to Watch nod. Alvarez tallied a 16-7 record in the spring season that included nine SEC victories. He picked up two ranked wins on the season, including a 5-7, 6-3, 6-1 win over Georgia's then-No. 25 Thomas Paulsell. Alvarez clinched back-to-back road wins for the Sooners against Ole Miss (4-3) and Alabama (4-3), both of which went into third-set tie breaks, seeing Alvarez as the winner and later earning him his first SEC Player of the Week honor (April 2). The junior held an eight-match win streak in conference play, providing the Sooners eight points in SEC competitions which led him to earn All-SEC Second Team honors.

Freshman Oscar Lacides earned the Sooners' sixth Rookie of the Year award in the last eight seasons after he notched 11 wins in his freshman campaign and earned an SEC Freshman of the Week honor following a win over Georgia's then-No. 31 Miguel Perez Pena, 1-6, 6-2, 7-6(3) to clinch the Sooner win over the Bulldogs. The freshman was named to the All-SEC Freshman Team and the All-SEC Second Team following his success on the court in conference play. The France native has been ranked in singles consistently throughout the season and was tabbed the No. 10 newcomer in the nation. In doubles, Lacides and teammate Bruno Nhavene began the season in the ITA doubles rankings and broke into the top 25 on April 1. The duo also earned the ITA Central Region champion title and Lacides claimed the ITA Central Region Co-Champion title in singles with teammate Jordan Hasson. The regional titles qualified Lacides for the NCAA Individual Championships in both singles and doubles.

ITA national award winners will be announced on Thursday, June 12.

Three Sooners Claim Five ITA Regional Honors

Players Mentioned

Luis Alvarez

Jordan Hasson

Oscar Lacides

Bruno Nhavene

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University of Oklahoma Athletics

Three Sooners Claim Five ITA Regional Honors

Players Mentioned

Luis Alvarez

Jordan Hasson

Oscar Lacides

Bruno Nhavene

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