ROCK HILL, S.C. --- Tusculum College's Henrique Rodrigues and Steven Lin were named to the 2009 All-South Atlantic Conference Men's Tennis Second Team announced league officials Thursday night at the SAC Tennis Awards Banquet. Tusculum senior Hunter Beal was the recipient of the prestigious SAC Scholar Athlete Award for Men's Tennis.

Rodrigues, a 6-2, 175-pound junior from Salvador-Bahia, Brazil, earns All-SAC Second Team honors for the second time in his career. Rodrigues went 8-12 in singles play at the top two flights this season. He also recorded an 11-5 doubles record with teammate Leo Guaycurus, including 6-2 in SAC matches.

Lin, a 5-11, 155-pound freshman from Ping Dong, Taiwan, has posted a 15-4 singles record in his rookie season, including 6-2 in league play. Lin and Beal recorded a 12-6 worksheet at No. 3 doubles, including 6-2 in conference play.

Beal, a 6-2, 175-pound senior from Heiskill, Tenn., becomes the first player in school history to earn the SAC Scholar Athlete Award for Men's Tennis.

Beal has a 3.78 cumulative grade point average, while majoring in Sports Science. He went 8-11 in singles play, primarily at the number three position and was 14-7 in doubles competition. Beal is a three-time ITA Scholar-Athlete, and is a recipient of the NASPE Outstanding Major Award. He is a member of Alpha Chi Honor Society and has been nominated to the Tusculum President's Society. He is also active in community and campus activities, serving as a tutor in area schools, and volunteers with a local soup kitchen, Toys for Children campaign, a local assisted living center and took part in a mission trip to New Orleans to help restore a church.

The Pioneers (13-9) have won their last four matches and have advanced to the semifinal round of the Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament in Rock Hill, S.C. Tusculum will face top-seed Wingate University Friday morning at 9 a.m. at the Rock Hill Tennis Center.

- SAC -

2009 All-South Atlantic Conference Men's Tennis Team
First Team
Giuseppe Schwarz, Carson-Newman
Shahin Soltan, Catawba
John Fichardt, Lenoir-Rhyne
Hannes Ganss, Lincoln Memorial
Bastian Guenther, Lincoln Memorial
Alessandro du Besse, Mars Hill
Koeche Smith, Mars Hill
Mitchell Lvovsky, Wingate

Second Team
Jarred Fisher, Brevard
Cole Altizer, Brevard
Matt King, Catawba
Felipe Sobrinho, Newberry
Steven Lin, Tusculum
Henrique Rodrigues, Tusculum
Braeden Patchell, Wingate
Bruno Pudence, Wingate

SAC Player of the Year: Alessandro du Besse, Mars Hill
SAC Freshman of the Year: John Fichardt, Lenoir-Rhyne
SAC Coach of the Year: Michael Cabana, Wingate
SAC Scholar Athlete: Hunter Beal, Tusculum