TAMPA, Fla. – The Sun Conference announces its major award winners and all-conference honorees for the 2025 men's tennis season.
Yassir Kilani of Keiser has been named the Sun Conference Player of the Year. The senior from Rabat, Morocco, has been dominant for the Seahawks at the top of the lineup, going undefeated (5-0) at the No. 1 singles position in conference play. Kilani also remained unbeaten in Sun Conference action at the No. 2 doubles spot. Overall, he compiled a 9-2 singles record and a 7-2 mark in doubles competition.
Didrik Liljekvist and Heber Santos of Keiser has been named the Sun Conference Doubles Team of the Year. The duo is currently ranked No. 2 in the NAIA and holds an undefeated 11-0 overall record. Competing at the No. 1 doubles spot for the Seahawks, they also went 7-0 in Sun Conference play. Liljekvist was additionally recognized as a First Team All-SUN member for his performance at the No. 5 singles position.
Gonzalo Fernandez of Southeastern has been named the Freshman of the Year. Competing at the No. 5 and 6 spots in singles, Fernandez went undefeated in Sun Conference play and posted an impressive 9-2 overall record. He also made a strong impact in doubles, partnering with Diego Menendez at the No. 2 position to go 4-0 in league action and 9-1 overall.
Sam Reeder of Southeastern is this year’s Champion of Character award recipient. A dedicated leader both on and off the court, Reeder leads the “Faith on Fire” ministry for student-athletes at SEU and also volunteers regularly at his church. He was honored with the “Salt and Light” Award this year at SEU for his outstanding service in ministry. As stated by his head coach, Drew Dickens, Sam exemplifies character through his ability to balance academics, tennis, and a deep commitment to serving the needs of those around him.
Pat Page of SCAD Savannah has been named the Sun Conference Coach of the Year. Page earns this recognition from his peers after leading the Bees to a share of the 2025 Sun Conference Regular Season Title, highlighted by a thrilling 4-3 win over Southeastern to close out the regular season. SCAD finished with a 12-5 overall record and a 6-1 mark in league play. Page also guided four players to All-Conference recognition, capping off an impressive campaign for the program.
Men's Tennis Award Winners
Player of the Year -- Yassir Kilani, Keiser
Doubles Team of the Year -- Didrik Liljekvist & Heber Santos, Keiser
Freshman of the Year -- Gonzalo Fernandez, Southeastern
Champion of Character -- Sam Reeder, Southastern
Coach of the Year -- Patrick Page, SCAD Savannah
Men's Tennis All-Conference Teams
| First Team |
| Name |
Institution |
| Shaheed Alam* |
Keiser |
| Gonzalo Fernandez |
Southeastern |
| Adam Jaupart* |
SCAD Savannah |
| Yassir Kilani* |
Keiser |
| Didrik Liljekvist* |
Keiser |
| Diego Menendez* |
Southeastern |
| Danil Ozernoy* |
SCAD Savannah |
| |
|
| Second Team |
| Name |
Institution |
| Leonardo Ciriaci |
Coastal Georgia |
| Anderson Duggan |
Ave Maria |
| Diego Fernandez |
SCAD Savannah |
| Piero Fernandez* |
Southeastern |
| Javier Gallego |
Southeastern |
| Mark Tryakshin* |
SCAD Savannah |
* - Repeat First or Second Team All-Conference honorees from last year
The 2025 Sun Conference Men’s Tennis Tournament gets underway Wednesday, April 23, in Brunswick, Ga. Quarterfinal play features No. 3 Southeastern vs. No. 6 Warner and No. 4 Coastal Georgia vs. No. 5 Ave Maria, with both matches scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Top seeds No. 1 Keiser and No. 2 SCAD Savannah await the winners in Thursday’s semifinals. The championship match is set for Friday, April 25, at 10:00 a.m. For more info on the 2025 Men’s Tennis Tournament, click here.
ABOUT THE SUN CONFERENCE
Now in its 35th year, The Sun Conference, a 501c3 organization, continues to be one of the most successful intercollegiate athletic conferences in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Under the guidance of Commissioner Dustin Wilke, the league sponsors championships in 24 NAIA sports. Learn more at thesunconference.com
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