SPARTANBURG, S.C. (April 15, 2026) – The Southern Conference (SoCon) announced its annual men's tennis award winners and All-Conference teams on Wednesday afternoon. Oscar Martinez was named the SoCon Player of the Year, while Ricky Rojas was named the League's Coach of the Year. Martinez also landed All-SoCon First Team honors in both singles and doubles as did fellow Buc Martin Vergara.
 
Martinez put together one of the most impressive seasons ever by a Buccaneer in 2026. The junior from Venezuela went 18-1 in singles this spring. Martinez won 10 matches in a row to begin the spring season and had an eight-match winning streak after dropping his lone contest of the regular season. Martinez, who was also named SoCon Player of the Week six times in 2026, is the seventh different Buccaneer to earn Player of the Year honors in the SoCon since the award was introduced in 1984.
 
Rojas led the Bucs to one of their most successful regular seasons in their storied history this spring. After three losses to begin the season at Tennessee (twice) and then-No. 1 Wake Forest, Rojas guided the Bucs to 19 consecutive victories, which is the longest in Division I as the Bucs enter the SoCon Tournament. ETSU had three different players account for nine SoCon Player of the Week awards and the Blue and Gold have been nationally-ranked for seven consecutive weeks reaching as high as No. 60. This marks Rojas' third time being named the SoCon's Men's Tennis Coach of the Year and he is the third ETSU head coach to earn this accolade three times or more.
 
After redshirting last season, Vergara has stepped immediately into a key role for ETSU. Playing primarily in the No. 2 spot in ETSU's lineup, Vergara compiled a 14-6 record in singles in 2026. Vergara closed the season with an 8-2 record in the last 10 matches and went 6-1 in conference matches. Vergara will also ride a six-match winning streak into the SoCon Tournament.
 
As good as Martinez and Vergara have been in singles, they have been just as good in doubles. The tandem has consistently been in the National Doubles Rankings throughout this season and have compiled a record of 14-2 when paired together. The duo of Martinez and Vergara close the regular season ranked No. 85 in the country in doubles.
 
ETSU will be back in action on Thursday in the SoCon Quarterfinals with a matchup against No. 8 seed The Citadel. First serve for that match is set for 1 p.m. from the Champions Club in Chattanooga.
 
For more information on Buccaneer men's tennis, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the men's tennis tab.