Altoona’s Beard, Bene, Stern headline All-AMCC men’s tennis team

LATROBE, Pa. - Penn State Altoona men's tennis was well-represented on the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference's All-Conference team, which was released on April 21.

The Lions swept all three major individual awards, as Nick Beard, of Manns Choice, was voted the AMCC Player of the Year, Ivan Bene, of York, was picked the Newcomer of the Year, and head coach Megan Stern was selected the Coach of the Year.

Additionally, Beard, Bene, Jackson Newell, of Leechburg, Gabriel Lopez, of Wilmette, IL, Emmett Hibbs, of Richfield, and Wilhelm Grot, of Tyrone, were all voted to various spots on the All-Conference team.

Nick Beard, AMCC Player of the Year: Beard had an excellent campaign for the Lions. In singles, he played all his matches at the No. 1 position, where he compiled a 14-3 overall record that included a 7-1 mark within the AMCC. In doubles, he went 12-5 overall with a 6-2 conference record. Beard also became Penn State Altoona's all-time leader in both singles wins (48) and doubles wins (43) this season, and he was twice named the AMCC Player of the Week.

Ivan Bene, AMCC Newcomer of the Year: Bene put together a strong first season for Penn State Altoona. In singles play, he posted an 8-5 overall record, including going 5-0 in the AMCC, while making all his appearances in the No. 2 spot. In doubles, he was 11-4 overall, including a 5-1 AMCC record.

Megan Stern, AMCC Coach of the Year: Stern earns her third AMCC Coach of the Year honor, after previously being selected for the award in the 2022 and 2024 seasons. This year, she helped guide Penn State Altoona to a 12-6 overall record, tying for the second-most wins in a season in program history. The Lions went 6-2 in the AMCC to place second in the regular season standings, and the team went on to finish as the AMCC runner-up.

First Team All-AMCC

Nick Beard, No. 1 singles: Beard played all 17 of his singles matches at the No. 1 position, where he tied for the team lead in overall wins by going 14-3, including a 7-1 record against conference opponents. Beard also picked up a spot on the AMCC All-Tournament team following the conference postseason.

Ivan Bene, No. 2 singles: All 13 of Bene's appearances in singles play came at No. 2, where he posted an 8-5 record, including a perfect 5-0 mark against AMCC competition.

Jackson Newell, No. 4 singles: Newell played in all 18 matches this season and split time between the No. 3 and No. 4 singles positions. At No. 4, he went 7-3 overall, including 4-0 against AMCC opponents. In all singles matches combined, Newell went 14-4 and finished the season with a spotless 8-0 record in the AMCC. He also picked up one AMCC Player of the Week award this spring.

Second Team All-AMCC

Gabriel Lopez, No. 3 singles: Lopez played the majority of his singles matches at No. 3 this season, where he posted a 7-3 overall record that included a 2-2 mark in the AMCC. He went 11-5 in all singles positions combined and finished the season with a 5-2 conference record. Lopez also earned one AMCC Player of the Week award this year.

Emmett Hibbs, No. 5 singles: Hibbs played 11 of his 13 singles matches at No. 5, going 6-5 overall in that spot, including a 2-2 record against AMCC opponents. On the season, he compiled an 8-5 singles record and was 3-2 within the conference. Hibbs took AMCC All-Tournament honors at the conclusion of the conference playoffs.

Wilhelm Grot, No. 6 singles: Grot was 4-4 overall in No. 6 singles matches, including 1-2 against AMCC competition there. In his 13 total singles matches this season, Grot was 9-4 overall and 4-2 in the AMCC.

Nick Beard/Gabriel Lopez, No. 1 doubles: Beard and Lopez teamed up to lead the Lions in doubles wins together this season, going 10-5 overall, including a 4-2 record against AMCC opponents.

Ivan Bene/Wilhelm Grot, No. 2 doubles: Bene and Grot had the second-most doubles wins on Penn State Altoona this year, as the duo went 9-3 together at No. 2 and put together a 5-1 AMCC mark.

Emmett Hibbs/Jackson Newell, No. 3 doubles: Hibbs and Newell were 5-1 together in No. 3 doubles matches, including going 4-0 in the AMCC.