Lander University

Men's Tennis 4/24/2025 2:04:00 PM Hailey Franklin - Assistant Sports Information Director

Pugh Named Freshman of the Year as Lander Men’s Tennis Shines in PBC All-Conference Awards

AUGUSTA, Ga. - The Lander men's tennis team made a strong impression in the 2025 Peach Belt Conference postseason awards, headlined by freshman standout Harry Pugh being named the PBC Freshman of the Year and earning First Team All-Conference honors in singles.

Pugh, currently ranked No. 56 in the nation in singles by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), has had an exceptional debut season for the Bearcats. The New Zealand native posted a 13-3 overall record in singles and 11-5 in doubles. His all-around performance earned him a spot on the All-Conference First Team for singles and Second Team honors in doubles alongside fellow freshman Brendan Jayaprakash.

The freshman duo of Pugh and Jayaprakash has been one of the top pairs in the league this season, going 8-2 at the No. 2 doubles position and 3-2 at No. 1. The tandem was recently ranked No. 47 in the nation in the latest ITA doubles rankings.

Junior Ismail ElShafei also garnered recognition, earning All-Conference Second Team honors for singles. ElShafei has been a steady presence in the Bearcat lineup, anchoring the No. 4 position with an 11-5 record.

Adding to the list of accolades, senior Ludvig Danielsson was named the recipient of the prestigious Elite 18 Award, presented by Barnes & Noble College. The award honors the student-athlete with the highest GPA at the championship site, recognizing academic excellence among the conference's top competitors.

Lander is currently ranked No. 25 in the latest ITA Coaches Poll and concluded the regular season with an 11-6 overall record, including a 2-3 mark in PBC play. The Bearcats enter the Peach Belt Conference Tournament as the No. 4 seed and will open postseason play against fifth-seeded Georgia College and State University.

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Players Mentioned

Ludvig Danielsson: Senior

Ismail ElShafei: Junior

Brendan Jayaprakash: Freshman

Harry Pugh: Freshman

Players Mentioned

Ludvig Danielsson
: Senior

Ismail ElShafei
: Junior

Brendan Jayaprakash
: Freshman

Harry Pugh
: Freshman