Mississippi State men’s tennis standout Romain Ambert has been named to the 2002 All-Southeastern Conference first team, as released by the league office Wednesday. The selection marks the sophomore’s second to the conference’s first team squad, as he also earned the honor as a freshman last year.
Currently ranked 10th nationally in singles in the latest Omni Hotels Collegiate Rankings (released Wednesday), Ambert is 35-9 overall this year, 16-3 in dual matches, and 9-2 in the SEC.
His 35 wins make him only the fourth Bulldog in the modern era of the program to post 35 or more wins in a single season.
A native of Toulouse, France, Ambert has won 16 of his last 19 matches, all at the No. 1 singles position in State’s lineup, and has defeated 18 ranked opponents this year.
He was named SEC Player of the Week for March 18-24 when he went 3-1 in singles and doubles in the Bulldogs’ road important road victories at Vanderbilt and then-No. 4 Kentucky.
“Only eight players are named first-team, all-SEC every year, which leaves out some very good players,” MSU head coach Sylvain Guichard said.
“It is very impressive that Romain has been able to do that during each of his first two years here considering the talent level that exists in our conference. We are very proud of him for what he has achieved this season.”
Ambert’s selection marks the 13th-consecutive season that State has had at least one student-athlete selected to the all-SEC men’s tennis squad.
MSU has also had at least one first-team member in all eight seasons that the league has been naming a first and second team.