Following a vote by the league's head coaches, the Liberty League announced its 2023-24 Men's Tennis Major Awards and All-League teams.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Aiden Drover-Mattinen, Junior, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
For the second time since 2021-22, RPI junior Aiden Drover-Mattinen was recognized as the Liberty League Player of the Year. This year Drover-Mattinen compiled a 15-6 overall record in singles, including a 7-1 mark against conference opponents. He went 14-4 in dual matches at number one singles. Drover-Mattinen is currently ranked second in Region II and 34th in Division III. In doubles, he along with teammate Andy Zhu were 24-6 overall and 16-2 at number one doubles in dual matches for the Engineers (7-1 Liberty League). Their only Division III loss in dual matches was to Hobart in a tiebreaker. Drover-Mattinen and Zhu headline the Region II rankings and are 23rd in Division III. In the fall, the RPI tandem advanced to the IRA Northeast Regional doubles final and took part in the ITA Cup in Georgia. Drover-Mattinen earned a spot in the Division III NCAA Men’s Tennis Tournament in singles as well as doubles with Zhu, which will be held May 26-28.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Tsubi Okada, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
RPI first-year Tsubi Okada was selected as the Liberty League Rookie of the Year. Okada went 19-8 in single plays and 13-4 at number three in dual matches. During the regular season, he was 6-1 at number three against conference opponents and posted a pair of 2-0 sweeps at number three in the league tournament. Okada immediately emerged as a top first-year player with a strong fall campaign, advancing to the singles final in the ITA Northeast Regional before falling to The College of New Jersey’s Mathew Michibata then Okada competed at ITA Cup in Georgia. In doubles play this season, he teamed up with classmate Joel McCandless and the duo went 14-3 at number two for RPI.
COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – Jon Satkowski, Head Coach; Assistant Coach Stephane Legris
RPI head coach Jon Satkowski and assistant coach Stephane Legris were named the Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year. Satkowski directed the Engineers to a 17-2 overall record, including an unblemished mark of 8-0 in the Liberty League regular season, and the team’s third consecutive Liberty League championship. RPI posted a 15-match winning steak in the spring that spanned nearly two months from March 6th, a 7-0 win against Loyola (Md.) to May 5th, the Liberty League final, a 5-2 victory over Vassar. The Engineers concluded the 2023-24 campaign in the second round of the NCAA Division III tournament; ranked second in Region II and 20th in Division III.