Jan. 11, 2005

WACO, Texas - Men's tennis earned its first pre-season No. 1 ranking after the Intercollegiate Tennis Association released its 2005 team rankings on Tuesday.

The 2004 national champions return five from last season's roster including 2004 NCAA Singles Champion Benjamin Becker and 2004 ITA Player of the Year Benedikt Dorsch. The Bears also return Barry McLaren, Jon Reckewey and Matija Zgaga from the championship squad.

Zgaga teamed with Dorsch in 2004 to finish the season ranked 8th in doubles and is currently ranked No. 6 in the central region singles rankings.

Freshman Lars Poerschke holds the No. 1 regional ranking after going 13-4 during the fall and is Baylor's top newcomer.

Men's singles and doubles rankings have not been released yet. The next ITA team rankings come on Feb. 1.

The Bears begin spring action this weekend, Jan. 14-16, at the Sherwood Classic in Thousand Oaks, Calif.