Five Sooners Named ITA Regional Award Recipients

NORMAN -- Five Sooners earned Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Division I Men's Central Region honors, the organization announced Tuesday. Head coach Nick Crowell was named Coach of the Year, while Ben Dunbar earned Assistant Coach of the Year recognition. Luis Alvarez, Johan Rodriguez and Asahi Harazaki collected Senior Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Most Improved Player honors, respectively.

Crowell and Dunbar teamed up to shape a season highlighted by a trip to the NCAA Tucson Super Regional, an NCAA Norman Regional title, a season-high national ranking of No. 8, a 20-7 overall record, and a 10-4 mark in SEC play. The Sooners closed the regular season on an eight-match winning streak, including five victories over top-15 teams and three over top-10 opponents. Overall, Oklahoma recorded 13 wins against nationally ranked competition and earned the No. 4 seed in the SEC Championship after finishing in a three-way tie for third in the conference. The squad showed consistency throughout the season, winning eight of its first nine matches in addition to its strong finish. He also coached multiple players to career-high ITA rankings, including Rodriguez (No. 94 singles; No. 32 doubles), Alejandro Melero (No. 37 doubles), Asahi Harazaki (No. 89 singles), Alvarez (No. 25 singles; No. 4 doubles), and Bruno Nhavene (No. 4 doubles). Even in defeat, Oklahoma remained highly competitive, with all seven losses coming by narrow 4-3 margins.

Alvarez left a strong mark on Sooner tennis in his final season in Norman, he surpassed 120 career wins, including 24 singles victories this year. During the regular season, Alvarez posted a 14-4 record with nine wins in SEC play. Competing primarily at the No. 1 singles position, Alvarez earned 10 wins there and added six more at the No. 2 line. His impact has been evident, highlighted by eight victories over nationally ranked opponents and career-high rankings of No. 25 in singles and No. 4 in doubles.

Rodriguez put together an outstanding debut season with the Sooners. He recorded a 20-5 singles record in dual matches, including 10 against SEC opponents. His performance earned him four consecutive SEC Freshman of the Week honors. Rodriguez closed the regular season with victories in nine of his last 10 matches and four wins over nationally ranked opponents. He went on to notch another seven-match win streak in the postseason. The Colombia native also contributed nine doubles wins. Across fall and spring competition, he has totaled 24 singles wins and 38 combined victories. Rodriguez primarily competed at the No. 4 singles position where he posted an impressive 15-2 record.

Asahi Harazaki reached a career-high singles ranking of No. 89 while compiling a 17-11 overall singles record, including a 13-8 mark in dual matches and nine SEC victories. Harazaki was named the SEC Player of the Week (April 14) after clinching the final regular-season matches. Competing primarily at the No. 6 position, he posted an 8-4 record. He provided the clinching point in Oklahoma's final two dual matches of the regular season. In doubles, he notched a 14-11 overall record, including an 11-9 mark in dual play and a 6-4 record in SEC competition.

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