Horne Claims ITA Arthur Ashe Sportsmanship Award

AIKEN, S.C. - USC Aiken senior Ed Horne won the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) NCAA Division II Arthur Ashe Sportsmanship Award for the Southeast Region it was announced by the ITA recently.
 
Only one male and one female from each region acquire this prestigious sportsmanship award per year. Horne was nominated by an anonymous regional coach and voted the winner by the ITA regional committee.
 
“I am proud to say that we have quite a few guys on the team that could have won the ITA Arthur Ashe Sportsmanship Award,” noted USC Aiken head tennis coach Steve Dahm. “It is nice to see a guy like Ed be recognized for sportsmanship. He didn’t win this award by trying to be everyone’s best friend, but rather by playing hard and carrying himself in the same calm, classy manner as the award’s namesake.”
 
Playing mainly at No. 3 singles in 2009, Horne compiled a 14-5 record in singles in 2009, including a 13-5 record at No. 3 singles. Horne was 1-0 at No. 1 singles.
 
The Kent, England native ends his Pacer career with a record of 50-30 in singles.
 
Horne was one-half of a top ten team in doubles all of 2009 as he and partner Dagoberto Darezzo (San Carlos, Brazil) finished the year 15-4. The Pacers’ tandem at No. 1 doubles all of 2009, Horne and Darezzo concluded the Peach Belt Conference regular season with a 5-1 league mark. The duo was a second team All-PBC selection in the spring of 2009.
 
Horne and Darezzo are presently ranked ninth in NCAA Division II.
 
Horne and USC Aiken as a team in 2009 reached higher than ever before, coming in at a program-high No. 5 in the latest ITA Division II rankings.
 
The Pacers, who received a bye into the semifinal round of the Savannah regional of the NCAA Division II Men’s Tennis Tournament, defeated No. 25 Francis Marion to advance to the regional final against No. 1 Armstrong Atlantic. The defending champion Pirates were able to claim the regional title, but the Pacers still concluded the year 19-5 overall.
 
The Pacers as a team won 13 of their final 15 matches in 2009.