NCC tennis player Sweeney earns All-American status
June 24, 2011 4:16PM
For the second consecutive season, North Central College men’s tennis player Sam Sweeney has been selected to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association NCAA Division III All-American Team.
Sweeney was one of 53 to be honored in Division III and was one of 26 players recognized as All-American for their play in singles competition. Sweeney was the lone College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin athlete to earn All-America honors in singles, while Illinois Wesleyan University’s Brian Piotrowski and Brian Sorich were named All-Americans for their outstanding play in doubles.
To be eligible for ITA All-America honors an athlete must satisfy one of the following requirements: Earn a top 8 seed in the NCAA singles tournament. Win one round at the NCAA Singles tournament. Finish in the Top 20 in the final ITA Rankings. Win an ITA Fall Regional Tournament or win a first round match at the ITA National Small College Championships.
Sweeney (21-2) concluded the 2011 season ranked No. 1 within the Central Region and 14th nationally after advancing to the second round of the NCAA Division III Singles Championship for the second straight season.
Sweeney captured his third straight CCIW title in both singles and doubles while earning CCIW Player of the Year honors for the third consecutive season. The senior won the ITA Central Regional during the fall season and posted a 14-match win streak during the year while compiling an 8-2 record against regionally ranked opposition.
The Cardinals closed out the 2011 season with a 10-11 overall record, posting a 2-3 record in CCIW play while placing fifth at the conference tournament.
