Sam Izrael named 2026 SSAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Southern States Athletic Conference announced the 2026 SSAC Men's Tennis Scholar-Athlete Team on Friday, and the Loyola Wolf Pack had two representatives on the team, including Sam Izrael, who was voted the SSAC Men's Tennis Scholar-Athlete of the Year. 

A senior from La Baule, France, Izrael is joined by fellow countryman Samuel Marin on the Scholar-Athlete Team. Izrael posted a GPA of 3.96, while Marin had an undergraduate GPA of 3.925 and a graduate GPA of 3.735.

To be eligible, student-athletes must be a sophomore or above in both academic and athletic standing, must be starters or important reserves, have at least a 3.3 cumulative GPA, and have competed in 50 percent of competitions. Graduate students and transfers must have completed one semester at the school.

This is the first SSAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year selection for the Wolf Pack men's tennis team since 2019, when Chris Fourmaux added the accolade to his resume. 

In his second season with the Pack, Izrael has played at the top of the lineup for most of the season, reaching a national singles ranking as high as No. 60 in April. He has compiled a 6-4 record in singles, and he and Alfredo Gallegos have gone a team-best 8-4 at the top doubles position. He and Gallegos also reached an ITA doubles ranking as high as No. 21 back in March. 

While Marin has not been ranked this year, he has been one of the most successful players on the Pack, posting a 7-4 singles record, which is tied with Gallegos for a team best. He's also played the entire doubles season at the No. 2 position, and he and freshman Luca Abati have gone 5-4 in doubles since their doubles debut in March. 

Loyola's men's tennis team will compete in the NAIA National Championship tournament for the first time next week in Mobile, Alabama. After recently playing the conference final there in April, the Pack will return to the Mobile Tennis Center as the No. 19 seed, facing No. 14 seed Grace College (Ind.) in the first round on May 12 at 9 a.m. 
 

2026 SSAC Men's Tennis Scholar-Athlete Team

Sam Izrael, Loyola*
Benjamin Ranby-Al, Abraham Baldwin
Samuel Marin, Loyola
Jean Nicolas Leblanc, William Carey
Vinh Nguyen, William Carey
Artur Ibragimov, William Carey
Youssef Fazazi, Mobile

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