Sanchez Martinez Named SEC Player of the Year; Four Bulldogs Earn All-SEC Honors

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State men's tennis standout Benito Sanchez Martinez highlighted a banner year for the Bulldogs, earning SEC Player of the Year and First Team All-SEC honors, while Petar Jovanovic, Niccolo Baroni and Mario Martinez Serrano were also recognized on the 2026 All-SEC teams, the Southeastern Conference announced Thursday.

Sanchez Martinez was named SEC Player of the Year, becoming just the third player in program history to earn the honor for Mississippi State. His selection marks the first for Mississippi State since Nuno Borges won three consecutive awards from 2017-19. He also earned All-Tournament Team recognition at the SEC Championship, further solidifying one of the most accomplished seasons in program history.

Sanchez Martinez and Jovanovic both earned First Team All-SEC recognition following dominant campaigns in both singles and doubles. Sanchez Martinez, ranked as high as No. 5 nationally in singles compiling an 18-4 dual singles record, including his current nine-match win streak, all against ranked opponents. In doubles, he and Jovanovic formed one of the nation's elite pairings, reaching No. 1 in the ITA rankings for 13 weeks and currently sitting at No. 8. The duo posted a 6-3 SEC doubles mark.

Jovanovic delivered consistency at the No. 2 singles position, going 15-4 in dual matches and 8-2 in SEC play. He totaled 29 overall singles victories, including 13 ranked wins, and added 15 doubles victories with 10 ranked wins. In SEC doubles action at the No. 1 position, he posted a 6-3 record, playing a key role in Mississippi State's success.

Baroni garnered Second Team All-SEC honors for the second consecutive season. The sophomore posted a 13-2 dual singles record and went 8-2 in SEC play, showcasing his impact in the Bulldogs' lineup.

Martinez Serrano also earned Second Team All-SEC recognition after compiling a strong season across singles and doubles. He posted a 16-6 dual singles record and an 18-7 dual mark including the SEC Tournament, along with a 10-6 record in conference and postseason play. His versatility and depth added another key piece to Mississippi State's lineup throughout the season.

Across the conference, Olaf Pieczkowski (LSU) was named SEC Freshman of the Year, Will Jansen (UGA) earned Newcomer of the Year honors, and Bruce Berque (TEX) was named SEC Coach of the Year.

All awards were selected by the league's head coaches.

First Team All-SEC
Jakub Vrba, Arkansas
Hamza Nasridinov, Auburn
Eli Stephenson, Kentucky
Olaf Pieczkowski, LSU
Petar Jovanovic, Mississippi State
Benito Sanchez Martinez, Mississippi State
Luis Alvarez, Oklahoma
Lucas da Silva, South Carolina
Sebastian Gorzny, Texas
Kholo Montsi, Texas A&M
Theo Papamalamis, Texas A&M
Togan Tokac, Texas A&M

Second Team All-SEC
Arda Azkara, Georgia
Will Jansen, Georgia
Nicolas Arseneault, Kentucky
Pablo Martinez Gomez, Vanderbilt
Erik Arutiunian, LSU
Andrej Loncarevic, LSU
Stefano D'Agostino, Ole Miss
Niccolo Baroni, Mississippi State
Mario Martinez Serrano, Mississippi State
Oscar Lacides, Oklahoma
Paul Barbier Gazeu, South Carolina
Sebastian Eriksson, Texas
Kalin Ivanovski, Texas

All-Freshman Team
Vit Kalina, Alabama
Noah Johnston, Georgia
Erik Arutiunian, LSU
Olaf Pieczkowski, LSU
Nicolas Arseneault, Kentucky
Johan Rodriguez, Oklahoma
Paul Barbier Gazeu, South Carolina
Lucas Marionneau, Texas
Markus Molder, Texas A&M
Hoyoung Roh, Vanderbilt

For more Information on the Bulldog women's tennis program, visit Hailstate.com or search for "HailstateMT" on X, Instagram and Facebook.

– HailState.com –

Mississippi State University Athletics

Sanchez Martinez Named SEC Player of the Year; Four Bulldogs Earn All-SEC Honors

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