Story courtesy of Buffalo's Athletic Communications Department

BUFFALO, NY – Fresh off leading the Bulls to their third-ever NCAA Tournament appearance and a Mid-American Conference regular season and tournament title, University at Buffalo men's tennis head coach Lee Nickell has been named the ITA New England Region Coach of the Year.

This is the second time that Nickell has received this prestigious honor.

The Bulls recorded an 18-8 overall record, including a 9-1 mark in league play, and won the MAC regular season and tournament championship titles for the first time since 2017. The top-seeded Bulls defeated Ball State in the semifinals before rallying to take down Western Michigan in the championship match to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament, where they fought hard but fell to Ohio State in the first round.

Nickell, who was named MAC Coach of the Year, led the Bulls to a remarkable turnaround after going 0-10 in league play a year ago. With the help of associate head coach Tony Miller and assistant coach Ethan Nittolo, Nickell guided a group of loyal returners as well as adding a talented group of newcomers into the mix.

The Bulls finished the season ranked fifth in the New England Region while Theodoros Mitsakos and Clement Mainguy were ranked 11^th and 19^th, respectively, in the singles poll and the duo of Daniils Snaiders and Cheng Tang earned a top 10 doubles ranking. Off the court, UB had five players earn Academic All-MAC honors while four members of the squad were named to the Academic All-District team.

"This award is a testament to Lee's exceptional and unique coaching philosophy which fosters remarkable growth in his student-athletes both on and off the court," said Miller. "Having spent over a decade under his guidance as a player and coach, I'm continually inspired by his wisdom, infectious energy and ability to cultivate a close-knit fiercely competitive team culture. His 16-year legacy at UB is truly incredible. Congratulations, Lee, on this well-deserved honor!"