FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- Mark Tarentino's Coach of the Year Award highlighted the Methodist men's tennis postseason awards announced by the USA South on Thursday.
 
In addition to Tarentino earning the nod as the league's top coach, Taylor Buchholz and R.J. Clement were both named first team all-conference, and Teal Howard was tabbed to the second team. Max Mancini was MU's All-Sportsmanship selection.
 
Tarentino stepped in as MU's interim head coach in January and helped lead MU to a 12-5 overall record, including a 9-1 mark in conference play. The Monarchs have moved up to No. 16 in the ITA's Atlantic South Region rankings and will enter the conference tournament as the No. 2 seed.
 
For Buchholz, a senior from Atlanta, Ga., this is the second time he has been a first team all-conference pick, and the fourth commendation in his career. He posted a 19-5 mark in singles (13-3 dual), including a 9-1 record in league play, all while playing No. 2. In doubles, he had a 12-12 record, including a 7-1 mark when playing with Jacob Groce.
 
Clement, a sophomore from Sugar Hill, Ga., picked up his second first team all-conference award from the league after posting a 15-9 overall singles record, including a 9-1 mark in league play. He played all of his matches at No. 1 and is ranked as the No. 22 singles player in the Atlantic South Region. In doubles, he played primarily with Howard, posting an 18-7 overall record and a 9-1 mark in league play.
 
A senior from Hamden, Conn., Howard earned his second award from the conference after being an honorable mention pick in 2013. In addition to his doubles mark, he was 16-8 in singles, and a perfect 10-0 in league play, primarily at the No. 3 position.
 
Matthew Harvie of Covenant was named the USA South Player of the Year and Ioannis Brokakis of N.C. Wesleyan was the Rookie of the Year.
 
Methodist will take on the winner of No. 3 Averett vs. No. 6 Ferrum in Saturday's semifinal round beginning at 2:00 pm at N.C. Wesleyan.
 

First Team	Second Team	Honorable Mention
Ioannis Brokakis, N.C. Wesleyan Taylor Buchholz, Methodist R.J. Clement, Methodist Matthew Harvie, Covenant Nathan Metzger, Piedmont Sebastian Sikh, N.C. Wesleyan	Mitchell Corley, LaGrange Chris Cox, Covenant Teal Howard, Methodist Oliver Lindqvist, Averett Matthew Metzger, Piedmont Daniel Silva, Maryville	Anh Hoang, Ferrum John Jones, Huntingdon Nicolas Quevedo, Averett Mark Sokolov, N.C. Wesleyan J.D. Telles, N.C. Wesleyan
	All-Sportsmanship
	Carlos Lora, Averett Trey Wood, Covenant Kevin Ramirez, Ferrum Warren Washington, Greensboro Justin McQueen, Huntingdon John Mitchell Benton, LaGrange Will Marttala, Maryville Max Mancini, Methodist J.D. Telles, N.C. Wesleyan Harrison LaBollita, Piedmont Michael Savage, William Peace