Robert Cox Named Region V Coach of the Year; Roberts Named Senior Player of the Year

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – For the second time in three seasons, Arkansas head coach Robert Cox has been named the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Region V Coach of the Year.

Cox, the winningest coach in Razorback history (247), led the Razorbacks to their fifth NCAA Tournament berth in six years in 2006 and their highest win total (18) since 1989. The Hogs defeated Michigan, 4-1, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Columbus, Ohio, marking the sixth time in his last seven NCAA appearances Cox has guided the Razorbacks into the regional final.

Cox received the Region V Coach of the Year honor in 2004 after leading the Hogs to the Sweet 16.

Seniors Rohan Gajjar, Matt Roberts and Adrians Zguns also received regional accolades. Gajjar was nominated for the John Van Nostrand Memorial Award, Roberts earned the Farnsworth/Senior Player of the Year Award and Zguns was nominated for the ITA/Rafael Osuna Sportsmanship Award.

Gajjar was a co-nominee for the Nostrand Award along with Oklahoma’s Alexei Ivanov. The Nostrand Award goes to an outstanding senior men’s player who plans to pursue a professional career after college. Gajjar was 22-8 in 2006, including posting a win in the Hogs first-round NCAA Tournament victory over Michigan. Gajjar was a first-team All-SEC choice in 2005 and was ranked as high as 31st in the nation in 2006. He earned a spot in the 2005 NCAA Individual Draw Singles Championship, and in 2004, he clinched each of the Razorbacks’ NCAA Tournament wins.

Roberts’ 28 wins in the 2006 season proved to be one of the most prolific seasons in school history. The win total ties for seventh best in a single season, and was the second straight season Roberts notched at least 26 victories. He was named to the All-SEC teams in 2005 & 2006. He aided the Hogs in three NCAA Tournament appearances, tallying wins in three of his four NCAA Tournament matches, including clinching the victory over Michigan this season.

Zguns is a nominee for the Rafael Osuna Sportsmanship Award, which goes to a men’s player who displays sportsmanship, character, excellent academics, and has had outstanding tennis accomplishments. Zguns’ tennis accomplishments include being one of only four players in Razorback history to reach 100 career victories (102). Zguns earned first-team All-SEC honors in 2004 & 2006, and won at least 24 matches in three of his four seasons. He earned a bid to the 2004 NCAA Individual Draw Singles Championship and opens play in the 2006 NCAA Singles Championship next Wednesday in Palo Alto, Calif.