April 14, 2004

WACO, Texas - The 22-2 Baylor Bears, ranked No. 2 nationally, will play its last regular-season home match of the year when it hosts 31st-ranked SMU on Thursday, April 15 at the Baylor Tennis Center at 6 p.m. Baylor, winners of 14 consecutive matches, recently wrapped up its fourth Big 12 Conference championship with its third straight 7-0 season. The SMU Mustangs (14-8) are coming off an upset win over 14th-ranked TCU, 4-3.

The Bears are led by third-ranked Benedikt Dorsch, No. 10 Benjamin Becker, No. 90 Matias Marin and No. 102 Matija Zgaga while the Mustangs are led by senior Johan Brunstrom, ranked No. 61. The two teams met earlier this season (March 10) in Dallas with the Bears posting a 5-2 win over the Mustangs. Baylor's Dorsch has only lost six matches this season, one of which came against Brunstrom, 7-6, 4-6, 7-6(8). In addition, Brunstrom and his partner Henrik Soderberg, ranked No. 27 at the time, defeated Dorsch and Zgaga, 8-5, at No. 1.

Farewell Seniors....
Baylor's two seniors, Matias Marin and Reiner Neurohr, will be honored at the match. Both men are four-year letterwinners and have played a large part in the success of the tennis program. Marin's career singles record is 99-35, which ranks him No. 2 on Baylor's all-time list and he is 72-26 in doubles. Neurohr is 81-48 in singles and 91-40 in doubles. He ranks No. 2 in career doubles wins at Baylor.

Baylor Quick Notes...
* The Bears have not been ranked lower than seventh nationally over the past two seasons.
* Benedikt Dorsch has never been ranked lower than No. 3 in singles.
* Baylor has been ranked No.2 or No. 3 in seven of the nine ITA Polls this season.
* Junior Benjamin Becker recently became Baylor's all-time career singles victory leader, he currently has 100 wins.
* Baylor is 77-6 over the past three seasons (27-2 in 2002; 28-2 in 2003 and 22-2 so far in 2004).
* The Bears have won three straight Big 12 Championships and four of the last five.
* The Bears have not lost a match to a Big 12 school since 2001 when Texas defeated Baylor in the semifinals of the Big 12 Tournament...that's 27 straight matches over Big 12 opponents.
* Baylor is 21-0 over the last three seasons in Big 12 play (2002, 7-0; 2003, 7-0; 2004, 7-0).
* Baylor is 35-2 over the last five seasons in Big 12 Play (2000, 8-0; 2001, 6-2; 2002, 7-0; 2003, 7-0; 2004, 7-0).
* Baylor players have claimed six of the 10 Big 12 Player of the Week honors this season.
Benedikt Dorsch - three times (Feb. 10, March 9, April 13)
Benjamin Becker - twice (March 23, April 7)
Matias Marin - Feb. 17

Baylor in the Rankings...
According to the most recent Omni Hotels Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) team rankings released April 13, the Baylor men's tennis is ranked No. 2 in the country. ITA Top 125 individual rankings released on April 6:
Singles
No. 3 Benedikt Dorsch (junior)
No. 10 Benjamin Becker (junior)
No. 90 Matias Marin (senior)
No. 102 Matija Zgaga (freshman)

Doubles
No. 9 Benedikt Dorsch/Ivor Lovrak
No. 20 Dorsch/Matija Zgaga
No. 25 Benjamin Becker/Matias Marin

Head Coach Matt Knoll...
Head coach Matt Knoll is in his eighth season at the Bears' helm. He has a career record of 173-65 in eight seasons as a head coach and is 165-49 in his tenure at Baylor. Knoll owns a .771 winning percentage in his eight seasons at Baylor. He has guided the Bears to four Big 12 championships (2000, 2002, 2003 & 2004), including three straight and was second in 2001. Under his guidance the Bears have made six straight NCAA Tournament appearances.

Protecting the Home Court...
During the 2002, 2003 and 2004 seasons, the Bears won all of their home matches. In fact, under head coach Matt Knoll the Bears are 85-16 when playing at home. In 2002, 13 matches were won on the Baylor Tennis Center and while the other three were played at the Ennis Indoor courts; in 2003, the Bears were victorious 13 times at the Baylor Tennis Center and one at the Ennis complex and they have won 11 at the Baylor Tennis Center and one at Ennis in 2004.

Twice this Season...
Two times this season Baylor men's and women's players have swept Big 12 Player of the Week honors. Benjamin Becker and freshman Carolin Walter were honored on April 7 and Benedikt Dorsch and freshman Klara Zrustova earned Player of the Week kudos this week (April 13).

Active Streaks...
Several Baylor players have lengthy win streaks going:
Benjamin Becker - 12 match - Last loss Feb. 29 to 38th-ranked Pedro Rico of Pepperdine.
Ivor Lovrak - 10 matches - Last loss March 10 to Henrik Soderberg of SMU
Benedikt Dorsch - 6 match - Last loss March 23 to #28 Sam Walburg of Stanford.
Benjamin Becker/Matias Marin - 10 match - Last loss Feb. 28 to Al-Agba/Torres of USC.
Ivor Lovrak/Reiner Nuerohr - 8 match - Last loss March 6 to Lleal/Arumi of Virginia Commonwealth.

Big 12 Finishes Since Knoll's Arrival...
1997 - 8th (3-6)
1998 - 2nd (7-2)
1999 - 2nd (7-1)
2000 - 1st (8-0)
2001 - T2nd (6-2)
2002 - 1st (7-0)
2003 - 1st (7-0)
2004 - 1st (7-0)