Over the last few years, both Virginia Tech's men's and women's tennis programs have started to take some big steps in terms of gaining national recognition with the men's team hosting a regional last season. However, the 2015-2016 season will go down as having the best individual performance by any one Hokie tennis player.
Joao Monteiro not only has a strong claim to go down as the best tennis player in Virginia Tech program history but has undoubtedly had the best single season performance of any Virginia Tech tennis player this past year.
Joao Monteiro joined Aaron Marchetti and Adam Marchetti as the only Virginia Tech men's tennis players to ever qualify for both the men's singles and doubles championships in the same season in 2015-2016 with Aaron Marchetti being the only one to do it twice.
In terms of national honors, Joao Monteiro became the third Virginia Tech men's tennis player to receive All-American honors and a top 16 seed in the NCAA Men's Singles Championships while also receiving All-ACC First Team honors this past season.
His success in singles and doubles has been quite impressive this season, and he has deservingly received all these recognitions. The other thing for Monteiro was that he shined in the biggest moments.
Monteiro had a 37-12 overall record including a 15-11 record against ranked singles opponents which is quite impressive. On top of that, he beat two of the top eight ranked players on his run to the semifinals of the NCAA Men's Singles Championships. Of course, Monteiro also started the season off by winning the ITA Atlantic Regional before making a run to the semifinals of the ITA Indoor Nationals.
Overall, Monteiro was absolutely dominant with a great start in the fall before leading the Hokies to a second round appearance in the NCAA Men's Team Tennis Championships along with going to the semifinals of the Men's Singles Championships.
Monteiro also received some impressive national recognition after his season was all finished.
https://twitter.com/VT_MTennis/status/738382422841151488
Monteiro set a program record by finishing the season ranked ninth nationally among all players by the ITA while also giving the Hokies their second-highest ranked men's doubles duo in program history with him and Andreas Bjerrehus finishing 23rd nationally.
Overall, Monteiro was the ace that any tennis program wants leading the program as the senior from Porto, Portugal was not only consistent throughout the ACC season but stepped up his game in the biggest matches and tournaments.
There is no doubt that Joao Monteiro had the best season in Virginia Tech tennis program history and will undoubtedly go down as one of the top 3 men's tennis players in Virginia Tech athletic history.
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