NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Saint Joseph’s graduate student Nathan Perrone and VCU freshman Joaquim Almeida have been named the Atlantic 10 Conference Men’s Tennis Most Outstanding Performer and Rookie Performer, respectively. The awards were announced Tuesday following a vote by the league’s 12 head coaches. In the same vote, VCU’s Anthony Rossi was named Coach of the Year. 

In dual matches, the Moorestown, N.J., product finished 16-1 (all at #1 singles) and 27-3 overall, setting a men's tennis program record with his 24th singles win of the season against Coppin State. Perrone passed the mark set by Jimmy Holland, who won 23 matches in the 2002-03 season. In the quarterfinals of the A-10 Men’s Tennis Championship matchup between Saint Joseph’s and Duquesne, Perrone defeated Kaipo Marshall, leading the Hawks to the semifinals of the A-10 Men’s Tennis Championship. Against A-10 opponents this year, he was 4-1 in singles play.

Almeida, a five-time Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week, spotted a 11-6 overall record at the No. 5 and No .6 position in singles dual matches. The freshman from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, had singles wins over Liberty, Old Dominion, and ETSU. Almeida also recorded doubles victories against Arizona and Auburn,  with partner Matisse Bobichon. Almeida also helped VCU claim the Atlantic 10 Men’s Tennis Championship title and clinch a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

Rossi is now in his fourth season as the head coach of the Rams. This year he led VCU to 22-7 overall record and was a perfect 3-0 when facing Atlantic 10 competition. He led VCU to this year’s A-10 Men’s Tennis Title and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. 

Joining Perrone and Almeida on the All-Conference First Team is Dayton’s Connor Bruce, Richmond’s John Walsh, Stijn Paardekooper of St.Bonaventure, Saint Joseph’s Nickolas Frisk and Alp Sentay, along with VCU's Charles Bertimon, Maxence Bertimon, Matisse Bobichon, Inigo Torre Martin, and Rayane Stable. 

The All-Conference Second Team consist of  Davidson’s Max Kachkarov, Uddayvir Singh, and Alejandro Solares; Dayton’s Matt DeMarco, Will Harper, Ronit Hiryur, and Steven Karl; Duquesne’s Kaipo Marshall and Alex Mascioli; Fordham’s Tom Russwurm, George Mason’s Rishab Sardana, and Saint Louis’ Ryota Fukushima.  

The All-Academic team, which is voted on by the league’s sports information directors, included Davidson’s William Clark, Dayton’s  Bruce and  Hiryur, Duquensne’s Jin Dassanayake, Saint Joseph’s Sentay, and VCU’s Torre Martin.