Alabama’s Osama and Cancel Named to All-SEC Teams
5/3/2017 10:31:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Sophomore Mazen Osama and freshman Thibault Cancel featured among 2017 Southeastern Conference award winners
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Alabama sophomore Mazen Osama was named First Team All-SEC for men's tennis, while freshman Thibault Cancel claimed Second Team All-SEC and All-Freshman honors, the Southeastern Conference office announced Wednesday.
"A great honor for both players as they are voted onto these teams by conference coaches," said Alabama head coach George Husack. "Together they were a unique and valuable combo for us this season."
Osama has proven to be the anchor in this year's Crimson Tide lineup, as the talented Cairo, Egypt, native leads the team for the most doubles and singles wins with 22 and 19, respectively. Osama is also first on the team for the most doubles and singles victories since the start of the dual match season with 16 and 11, respectively.
"Mazen's healthy body and extra one-on-one work contributed greatly to his success, and that had an invaluable impact to our team," said Husack. "He can do so much on court, but his attention to the smaller things this season has paid off."
Osama is currently nationally ranked No. 12 in doubles and No. 27 in singles. He partnered up with sophomore Spencer Richey to register a team-best 13 wins since the start of the spring season, with all matches coming from the top court. Since beginning the dual match season, Osama has been featured in the weekly Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings nine times. He has collected eight wins over nationally ranked singles opponents this year, while tallying five victories over nationally ranked doubles teams.
Cancel had an immediate impact on the Alabama roster upon his arrival to the Capstone last fall. The Toulouse, France, native is second on the team in total singles wins with 17, and he is tied for first for the most singles victories since the start of the spring season with 11. He is also ranked third in total doubles wins and doubles victories since the start of the dual match season with 15 and 11, respectively.
"Thibault spent so much time working on this game, and this training fueled him daily," said Husack. "He loved the process, and you could see that in competition. He has a bright future ahead of him, and we are looking forward to helping him continue to grow."
The gifted freshman is currently nationally ranked No. 119 in singles, and he has been ranked eight times since the start of the spring season. Cancel has registered five wins over nationally ranked singles opponents this year, and one victory over a nationally ranked doubles team.
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