All-MIAC Men's Tennis Release

WINONA, Minn. — Michael Lunka (Eagan, Minn.) and Bobby Steingraeber (La Crosse, Wis.) — boasting more doubles wins than any other team in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference — garnered All-MIAC First-Team honors, it was announced Tuesday.

And after the season they had, Tuesday's announcement by the conference office was a mere formality.

Lunka and Steingraeber dominated the men's tennis scene this season, opening the year with 13 straight wins en route to a single-season school-record 19-2 overall mark.

The 19 wins — all at No. 1 doubles — were the most since Mark Leeder won 18 matches during the 2005 season — while their two losses were the fewest in school history, one fewer than the previous mark held by Tyler Stevenson, who finished 16-3 in 2006.

As part of the conference-wide sportsmanship initiative, the MIAC also announced the sixth annual All-MIAC Sportsmanship team for men's tennis, which included SMU's Justin Loeffler (Winona, Minn.).

Saint John's Ian Hansen was awarded the 2012 Arthur Ashe Award, presented annually to a senior tennis student-athlete with outstanding sportsmanship and exemplary athletic, academic and humanitarian accomplishments. Though Hansen was selected for his many acheivements beyond the court, he was extremely impressive for the Johnnies on the court as well, adding both singles and doubles all-conference honors.

Gustavus head coach Tommy Valentini was honored with the 2012 MIAC Steve Wilkinson Coach of the Year award. Valentini guided the Gusties to their third MIAC regular-season championship in as many years as the team's head coach.