NEW YORK- After leading Butler to its first BIG EAST title at the 2017 Tennis Championship and being named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, Mikheil Khmiadashvili was named the BIG EAST Player of the Year. Butler also claimed Coach of the Year in head coach Parker Ross while Marquette's Luke Smrek nabbed Rookie of the Year honors.
 
Butler continued its success with a league-high three All-Conference selections while Marquette and DePaul followed with two honorees each. The major awards and All-BIG EAST team were voted on by the eight head coaches who could not cast ballots for themselves or their own student-athletes. The BIG EAST announced the team Friday, May 12.
 
Khmiadashvili goes into the NCAA tournament with a 25-7 overall record playing between courts 1,2 and 3. Partnering with Mason Dragos in doubles, the pair has a 12-3 record, primarily playing at No.1. At this year's tournament Khmiadashvili clinched the Bulldog's 4-3 wins in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively.
 
Guiding Khmiadashvili and the Bulldogs to a successful season was BIG EAST Coach of the Year, Ross. Ross coached Butler to the third seed in the championship, where BU picked up three team victories over No.7 Georgetown, No. 6 Villanova No. 5 Marquette.
 
Khmiadashvili was joined on the All-BIG EAST Team by teammates Dragos and Aviv Ben Shabat.

The full 12 member all-conference team is below:
 
BIG EAST Player of the Year
Mikheil Khmiadashvili, Butler, Sr.
 
BIG EAST Freshman of the Year
Luke Smrek, Marquette
 
BIG EAST Coach of the Year
Parker Ross, Butler
 
2017 Men's Tennis All-BIG EAST Team
Alan Nunez Aguilera , St. John's, So.
Harrison Lang, Creighton, Sr.
Nathan de Veer, DePaul, Sr.
Aviv Ben Shabat, Butler, So.
Peter Beatty, Georgetown, Jr.
Alvaro Verdu, Marquette, So.
Alex Galoustian, DePaul, Jr.
Roberto Livi, St. John's, Sr.
Mikheil Khmiadashvili, Butler, Sr.
Matt Bishop, Xavier, Sr.
Mason Dragos, Butler, So.
Luke Smrek, Marquette, Fr.