VALDOSTA, Ga. - Following a Gulf South Conference Championship victory over the ITA's No. 4 ranked West Florida Argonauts, the Valdosta State men's tennis team received more good news this week with multiple All-GSC honors, including the announcement of Head Coach John Hansen as the GSC Co-Coach of the Year by the league office on Thursday.

After receiving the most votes of any player by league coaches in the 2016 poll, sophomore Leo Blay earned the title of GSC Player of the Year. The honor for Blay, who earned Freshman of the Year honors last season, came as a result of an 8-3 season in the No. 1 singles position for the Blazers. The Nice, France native currently ranks at No. 8 in all of Division II according to the individual ITA singles rankings, and Blay's efforts at doubles led to 17 wins against just two losses at the No. 2 position.

Joining Blay as a First Team All-GSC selection was Gereon Heitmann, a junior out of Gutersloh, Germany, who defined consistency for the Blazers in 2016, particularly in singles play. Heitmann recorded 13 wins against just two losses on the season as VSU's No. 2 singles player and added a 12-9 record in doubles action.

Newcomers Jordi Mas and Fernando Rivas picked up Second Team honors after helping lead VSU to their 11th GSC Title. Mas posted a 7-2 doubles record against GSC opponents this season and an 8-4 overall record at No. 4 singles, while Rivas captured an 8-5 singles record on the year. Rivas' biggest victory of the season came in the GSC Championship, as he broke a 4-4 tie at No. 3 singles with a victory over Kenny Brasil to seal the deal.

Hansen joined UWF Head Coach Derrick Racine as the Co-Coach of the Year after leading the Blazers to an overall record of 15-6 and an 8-1 stint against league opponents. Under Hansen's guidance, Valdosta State's GSC Title victory snapped a 51-match winning streak for the Argonauts against conference opponents.

The Blazers secured an automatic qualifier into the NCAA Division II National Tournament after their performance in the conference tournament and currently await the May 3rd announcement of their seeding.