Jan. 26, 2005
WACO, Texas - The top-ranked men's tennis team starts Big 12-Conference play this weekend as the Bears travel to Nebraska and Colorado to open one of the toughest schedules in school history.
"It's going to be unbelievably challenging," Baylor Head Coach Matt Knoll said of the schedule. "We need to be pushed and we will, and hopefully we'll be able to respond in a positive way."
The Bears come off one of the best seasons in school history in which the men's team brought Baylor its first national championship. Baylor not only won the 2004 NCAA team championship, but Benjamin Becker was crowned the 2004 singles champion as well.
The Bears return five from last season's squad and have added four new players to the roster. Becker, Benedikt Dorsch and recent transfer Greg Shearer provide the experience for the Bears' powerful youth.
No. 11 Lars Poerschke and No. 45 Matija Zgaga, freshman and sophomore respectively, lead the young guns of Baylor's program. Transfers Michal Kokta, Vladimir Portnov and Will Ward round off Baylor's eight-man travel roster.
Action starts Friday for the Bears as they travel to Lincoln, Neb. to open conference play. Match time is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. On Sunday, Baylor begins play at 10 a.m. in Boulder, Colo. Results will be available at the conclusion of each day's match at Baylorbears.com.
