March 8, 2005

WACO, Texas - The men's tennis team retained its No. 1 ranking Tuesday, as the Bears placed three in singles and three teams in doubles.

The Bears are currently 12-0, 2-0 conference, this season and hold a 36-match winning streak. Baylor won the USTA/ITA National Team Indoor Feb. 20, by defeating No. 2 Virginia 4-1. The Bears have held the No. 1 ranking in all seven committee votes this season.

Senior Benedikt Dorsch jumped from the No. 9 spot to the No. 1 position; which he held at the conclusion of the 2003-04 season. Dorsch is 13-0 this season in singles action and holds an 8-0 record against ranked opponents. He has defeated three top-10 opponents, most recently defeating No. 7 Doug Stewart of No. 2 Virginia 6-3, 6-4.

Senior Benjamin Becker moved up six spots to No. 37 after previously being ranked No. 44. Becker is 11-4 this season in singles action in the No. 1 and 2 courts. He finished the 2003-04 season by winning the NCAA Singles Tournament Title.

Freshman Lars Poerschke remained idle at the No. 19 spot with a team-best 23-8 record. Poerschke is 7-0 in dual matches this season and is 10-6 against ranked. He highlighted his first semester at Baylor by winning the ITA Central Regional in November 2004.

In doubles, Matija Zgaga and Poerschke fell to the No. 9 spot after placing sixth. The duo hasn't played since it won January 30 in the Bears second conference match of the season against Colorado. Dorsch and Zgaga moved to the No. 12 spot, with an 8-1 record and a six-match winning streak. Kokta and Poerschke jumped from the 43rd spot to No. 22 and hold a 12-3 record. They are 7-2 in the No. 2 court for Baylor.

The Bears continue action on Wednesday as they travel to No. 38 SMU in Dallas. Match time is set for 2 p.m.

ITA Rankings
March 8, 2005

Singles
# 1 Benedikt Dorsch
# 19 Lars Poerschke
# 37 Benjamin Becker

Doubles
# 9 Zgaga/Poerschke
#12 Dorsch/Zgaga
#22 Kokta/Poerschke