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May 11, 2011

IRVING, Texas – Peerakit Siributwong was named the 2011 Big 12 Freshman of the Year, while senior Ionut Beleleu and sophomore Costin Paval made the All-Big 12 Singles Team. Additionally, Paval and Siributwong were selected to the All-Big 12 Doubles Team, announced by the league office Wednesday.

This marks the second-straight year a Sooner claimed the Freshman of the Year award as Siributwong notched the honor one year after Paval claimed the accomplishment. Siributwong posted a singles record of 13-9 so far this season and was ranked as high as No. 70. In doubles, he went 11-5 with Paval at the No. 2 position. The duo is currently ranked No. 74 and has been ranked as high as 42nd this season.

“We’re excited to win the Big 12 Freshman of the Year award again,” John Roddick said. “That is a good sign for the program to win this two years in a row, with Paval winning last year. It means we’re recruiting well and also putting them on the right track once they get here from a development standpoint. It’s a good sign and hopefully we can continue to win that award every year, because good things are going to happen if you do.”

Beleleu and Paval were two of six unanimous selections and were recently selected as at-large participants to compete in the singles portion of the 2011 NCAA Championships, which will be conducted May 25-30 at the Taube Tennis Center in Stanford, Calif., following the conclusion of the team championship.

Beleleu, a two-time All-Big 12 member, has led the Sooners at the No. 1 position for the majority of the year and is currently ranked No. 24 nationally. The Zalua, Romania native, the 2010 ITA Central Region Champion, boasts a career record of 94-43 in singles and 59-56 in doubles. This past fall Beleleu was one of 32 participants to make the cut to compete in the prestigious USTA/ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships.

Paval, ranked No. 41 in singles, boasts a 16-6 overall record in dual competition. The Bucharest, Romania, product is 13-5 at the No. 2 position and 3-1 at the No. 1 spot for the Sooners.

“All-in-all we are excited that our top players are getting those awards and our young guys are really proving they are the best in the conference from the beginning, which is exciting for us,” Roddick said.

The Sooners open the 2011 NCAA First and Second Rounds on Friday, May 13 when they take on No. 36 Tulsa in the first round at 11 a.m. The winner will advance to the second round and will play the winner of No. 14 Texas vs. UMKC on Saturday, May 14 at 2 p.m.

The winner of each host site will advance to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen at the 2011 NCAA Championships in Stanford, Calif., May 20-24.