Janse garners preseason All-SAC honors

Posted: Jan 28, 2022

ROCK HILL, S.C. – For the first time in his Eagles career, junior Marc Janse (Zeewolde, Netherlands) has been awarded preseason all-conference honors as announced by the South Atlantic Conference Friday.

Janse was named to the 2021 All-SAC First-Team all-singles team after his impressive 2021 regular season. This marked the first time an Eagle was awarded first-team All-SAC honors since Joao Pedro Oliveira was named to the First Team all-singles squad following the 2016-17 season.

Following the 2020-21 season, Janse cemented his name in the record books for Carson-Newman men's tennis. Not only did he help C-N secure a SAC Tournament berth for the first time under head coach Jim Frederick, but Janse compiled a 13-4 overall record including 11-0 against the SAC in regular season matches. His 13 wins set a new CNMT program record, surpassing the previous record set by Jonathan Allen's during the 2013 season (12 wins). Janse became the record-holder with his last match against Tusculum and collecting a 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 victory against the Pioneers.

For Janse, he not only set the new program record for most singles wins in a single season, but he became the first CNMT athlete to go undefeated in SAC singles play since 2010. This is also the last season the Eagles advanced past the regular season and faced Mars Hill in the SAC Quarterfinals.

"His season last year was something I have never seen," C-N tennis graduate coach Gabriel Dabdab said. "I told him countless times to be proud of what he has done and he knows this team counts on him for success."

Meanwhile, Janse is joined on the preseason All-SAC first team by Rhodri Atkinson of Lenoir-Rhyne, Frank Bonacia of Tusculum, Edoardo Bottino of Queens, Yoan Roussinov of Queens (N.C.), and Nemanja Subanovic of Tusculum.

Heading into the spring season, Janse is 5-6 in singles action, including a result against a nationally-ranked opponent. Of his five singles wins this fall, Janse has beaten opponents from Montevallo and University of Charleston. His longest win streak come over the course of two fall tournaments as he won his last match at the Wingate Fall Invitational before starting off his time at the ITA Southeast Regional with a victory.

"I'm honored to get this honor, but I know it's preseason rankings so I need to prove myself again," Janse said. "For me, it's about helping my team out and if I can do what I did last year, I'd love it but I want the team to win too."

Janse and the Eagles will be in action for the first time this spring when they hit the courts against the Union (Ky.) Bulldogs on February 5^th from the Knoxville Racquet Club.

Be sure to keep up to date on all things Carson-Newman men's tennis at cneagles.com and via all social media accounts.

2022 SAC Men's Tennis Preseason All-Conference

First Team Doubles

Rhodri Atkinson / Josh Lazenby, Lenoir-Rhyne

Nemanja Subanovic / Frank Bonacia, Tusculum

Edoardo Bottino / Edoardo Cecere, Queens

Second Team Doubles

Yoan Roussinov/Jan Malmon, Queens

Isaac MacMillan/Sean Keane, Coker

First Team Singles

Rhodri Atkinson, Lenoir-Rhyne

Frank Bonacia, Tusculum