Xavier's Loic Didavi named Louisiana's Men's Tennis Player of the Year

Loic Didavi, a junior from Xavier University (La.), has beaten out the collegiate competition at all levels to be named the Louisiana Men's Tennis Player of the Year by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.

The media in Louisiana have noted that it is a rare occurrence for student-athletes from NAIA institutions or from historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to win such all-level state awards. The previous six winners of the award were from Louisiana State University.

Didavi is the first NAIA student-athlete to be named Louisiana player of the year in any sport since Julius Achon of Southern University at New Orleans shared the top men's track award in 1995.

Didavi is the first student-athlete from an HBCU to be named Louisiana Player of the Year in any sport since Grambling quarterback Bruce Eugene was the football offensive player of the year in 2005.

Didavi just completed his first season at Xavier after transferring from Auburn University, Montgomery (Ala.), also an NAIA institution. He was 25-6 in singles and 27-8 in doubles, and he earned top-10 rankings in both singles and doubles from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. He also was voted Newcomer of the Year. Didavi is from Cotonou, Benin, a West African nation located between Togo and Nigeria.

"This is a great honor for Loic and Xavier," Alan Green, Xavier men's tennis coach, told SportsNOLA.com. "Loic has put in the work to earn everything he achieved this year. He has really taken our team to another level of play."

Green also was recognized by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association with Louisiana Coach of the Year, his second straight honor and the third time in four years he has been recognized.

Xavier finished its season in the quarterfinals of the NAIA Men's Tennis Championships last month.