May 30, 2003

WACO, Texas - Baylor's men's tennis team finished No. 4 in the final national rankings, the highest ever finish for the Bears. Baylor completed the 2002-03 season with a program-best 28-2 record; their two losses came at the hands of the two schools that played in the national finals, Illinois and Vanderbilt. Prior to this season, the Bears' highest national ranking was No. 7, which they achieved in 2002 and 2000.

In individual rankings, sophomore All-American Benedict Dorsch, who finished 49-6 on the season and played in the NCAA national finals, slipped to No.3. Prior to Dorsch's No. 3 final ranking this season, current Baylor sophomore Benjamin Becker had achieved the program's highest final ranking at No.11. Becker, with an overall record of 30-8, jumped 10 spots from No. 41 to No. 31 while senior Zoltan Papp (27-10) dropped to No. 53 after losing two matches while playing with a broken hand. Matias Marin, a junior with a 31-11 record, slipped to No. 50. Freshman Ivor Lovrak, who completed dual match play undefeated at 20-0, finished at No. 109 and junior Reiner Neurohr checked back in, after a two-ranking absence, at No. 121.

In doubles, Dorsch and Neurohr, who attained All-American status, moved up 13 spots from No. 29 to No. 16 after reaching the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championships. Becker and Papp finished the season ranked No. 36.

Omni Hotels ITA Top 25
Final - May 30

1. Illinois
2. Florida
3. Stanford
4. Baylor
Vanderbilt
6. UCLA
7. California
8. Mississippi
9. Duke
10. Minnesota
11. Texas A&M
12. Washington
13. Texas
14. Tulane
15. Alabama
16. Kentucky
17. Ohio State
18. Virginia Commonwealth
19. Oklahoma State
20. South Carolina
21. TCU
22. Southern California
23. Georgia
24. Louisiana State
25. Auburn