June 4, 2004

WACO, Texas - Baylor's men's tennis team, after winning the school's first-ever NCAA team championship, is ranked No. 1 in the final Intercollegiate Tennis Association's (ITA) rankings and the women's team finished the 2003-04 season ranked No. 45.

In addition, five men's players are ranked among the top 125 and three men's doubles teams appear in the rankings as well. Freshman Carolin Walter is the lone ranked women's player, she is listed 47th on the final list.

Junior all-American Benedikt Dorsch is No. 1 in the final ITA rankings with an 82.49 average, ahead of Illinois' Brian Wilson who has an average of 79.26. A player's average is determined from the total number of rankings points divided by the number of countable matches played. No bonus points are awarded for NCAA tournament advancement. Dorsch finished the 2003-04 season with a 35-6 record and was 24-5 versus ranked opponents. NCAA singles champion Benjamin Becker finished the season ranked No. 9. Becker, a junior all-American, posted a 44-9 singles mark and was 24-6 against ranked players. Senior Matias Marin finished ranked No. 80, freshman Matija Zgaga checked in at No. 108 and sophomore Ivor Lovrak is No. 125. In doubles, three teams were listed among the nation's top 50. Dorsch and Zgaga are the highest-ranked Baylor tandem at No. 8, they completed 2003-04 play with a 15-4 record. Becker and Marin are ranked 30th and Dorsch and Lovrak are No. 35.

The team's No. 1 ranking is the highest ranking ever for a Baylor tennis team. The Bears, who finished the season with a 32-2 mark and a 24-match win streak, were ranked No. 2 nine times this season. Baylor's previous highest final ranking was No. 4 which it achieved last year.