Conference

The dominant figure in the NEC this season, UMBC sophomore Josef Novotny (Sokolov, Czech Republic) takes home #1 singles flight honors. A transfer from Norfolk State, Novotny took the NEC by storm in 2001-02, posting a 27-4 record, including 4-0 against NEC competition. A three-time NEC Player of the Week, he took his game to the next level in UMBC’s NCAA Tournament appearance against California. In his singles match, Novotny held a 6-2, 2-1 lead over Cal’s John Paul Fruttero, the #13 ranked player in the country, when the match was halted.

UMBC senior Eric Nudo’s (Greenbelt, MD/Roosevelt) selection at #2 singles is a historic one, as he becomes the first player in NEC history to be recognized as a four-time all-NEC performer. Following two years at #5 singles, Nudo claimed all-conference honors at #3 singles last season, before being elevated yet again by Puryear in 2001-02. He posted a 16-13 mark and went undefeated in three matches versus NEC competition. Nudo concluded his UMBC career with a 71-36 record.

UMBC sophomore Mikhail Kouznetsov (Moscow, Russia/Fort Lauderdale Prep) is the coaches choice at #3 singles. An all-league pick at the #2 flight last season, Kouznetsov closed out the campaign with a 20-6 record to improve his two-year mark to an impressive 39-12. He remains undefeated in his career in NEC play with an 8-0 record (5-0 in 2001-02).

A perennial NEC all-star, UMBC senior Dimitri Bondar (Ontario, Canada/Northview Secondary) is now a two-time honoree at #4 singles, following his selection at #6 singles in his sophomore season. Bondar was outstanding in 2001-02, posting a 16-5 overall record and 3-0 tally against league foes. The Ontario, Canada native has won 54 matches in his last three years with the team.

Former doubles specialist Chris Cetateanu (Forest Hills, NY/Forest Hills) made a seamless transition to #5 singles this past season for UMBC, sporting a 14-8 record to earn all-league plaudits. Cetateanu also won all four of his NEC singles matches.

Another UMBC player who logged significant doubles time before earning a promotion to #6 singles this past season is sophomore Luis Baraldi (Fort Lauderdale, FL/Cardinal Gibbons). Baraldi went 21-5 and staked his claim for all-NEC honors by winning all five of his league matches, including four by perfect 6-0, 6-0 scores.

Leading the UMBC sweep of doubles awards is the #1 team of Josef Novotny (Sokolov, Czech Republic) and Eric Nudo (Greenbelt, MD/Roosevelt). The duo ended the season with a 12-6 record and went 4-0 in NEC play. For Nudo, it represents his third all-conference doubles honor, all with different partners.

The most prolific #2 doubles tandem is UMBC’s Mikhail Kouznetsov (Moscow, Russia/Fort Lauderdale Prep) and Luis Baraldi (Fort Lauderdale, FL/Cardinal Gibbons). The Kouznetsov/Baraldi team compiled a 10-10 record, including a 4-1 mark in league action. The pair earned all-star status at #3 doubles last season.

Completing the UMBC sweep at #3 doubles is the all-senior team of Brandon Ferguson (Oakland, MD/Southern) and Navy Tran (Rockville, MD/Walter Johnson). The pair finished with a 6-4 record and won both their NEC matches.

Puryear’s success at UMBC is unmistakable, and his team’s accomplishments have reaped numerous individual honors for the 13th year head coach. He becomes the first three-time NEC Coach of the Year honoree after guiding his pack of all-stars back to the NCAA Tournament for the third straight year, where they dropped a 4-0 decision to #10 California. The Retrievers captured all 12 of their matches at the NEC Tournament and ended the season with an 18-8 record.

A much improved Fairleigh Dickinson squad, which lost to UMBC in the 2002 NEC title match, has a strong presence on the all-NEC second team with four singles honorees. At the #1 flight, FDU sophomore Alex Sarria (Cali, Colombia/CILA) was a perfect 11-0 in conference play, won ten straight matches to end the season and produced an 18-9 overall mark. Senior Boris Bogdanov (Fair Lawn, NJ/Fair Lawn) returned to the courts after a two-year hiatus and earned all-star recognition at #2 singles following a 20-6 campaign. Like Sarria, he won all 11 of his NEC matchups. The Knights’ George Green (Leeds, England/Notre Dame 6th) was one of only two freshman to be named a singles all-star in 2001-02. The #3 flight competitor led the league with 29 victories (against just five defeats) and was 12-1 versus conference opponents. Angel Rubio (Edo De Mex, Mexico/ITESM-CEM), also an FDU freshman, is the coaches choice at #5 singles, where he tallied an 8-2 record, including 6-0 in the league.

The remaining second team singles spots go to Monmouth senior Ali Gilak (Penngrove, CA/Vintage) at the #4 flight and Sacred Heart sophomore Jeff Bowers (Naugatuck, CT/Naugatuck) at #6. Gilak’s 11-11 overall record is somewhat deceiving, considering his 7-3 mark at #4 singles. He went 5-4 against NEC competition. Bowers did not drop a single conference match (5-0) and was 7-4 overall.