April 26, 2005
DALLAS - The Big 12 Conference named 64 student-athletes to the 2005 Academic All-Big 12 Men's & Women's Tennis teams on Tuesday and five Baylor student-athletes were on the list. Named to the team from Baylor were Benjamin Becker, Benedikt Dorsch, Matija Zgaga, Zuzana Krchnakova and Klara Zrustova.
Nominated by each institution's director of student-athlete support services and the media relations offices, the women's tennis academic all-league squad consisted of 33 first team members combined with seven on the second team, while the men had 18 first team members and six student-athletes on the second team. First team members consist of those who have maintained a 3.20 or better GPA, and the second team are those who have a 3.00 to 3.19 GPA.
To qualify student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative or the two previous semesters and must have participated in 60 percent of his/her team's scheduled contests. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence. Senior student-athletes who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all the criteria except percent of participation also are eligible.
Becker, a business major from Orscholz, Germany, was named to the first team for the third straight year. Becker, the reigning NCAA singles champion and currently ranked No. 18 nationally, is 22-5 on the season in singles and has posted a 17-6 doubles mark. Dorsch, the nation's second-ranked singles player at 23-2, is an Academic All-Big 12 selection for the second time, he was a second-team selection last season. Dorsch, a senior business major from Weiden, Germany, is ranked No. 2 nationally in doubles with partner Matija Zgaga. Zgaga, a sophomore computer science major, was a second team all-academic selection. In addition to being ranked No. 2 with Dorsch in doubles, Zgaga and Lars Poerschke are ranked No. 24.
Krchnakova and Zrustova were both named to the all-academic first team. Krchnakova, a junior business major from Trnava, Slovakia, is now a two-time selection while Zrustova, a sophomore business major from Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic, earned her first all-academic recognition. The duo own the most singles victories on the squad, Zrustova has a team-leading 25 wins and Krchnakova follows closely with 23.
All five Baylor student-athletes played major roles in their respective team's Big 12 Championship season. The men' earned their fifth title, including fourth straight, while the women registered their second conference championship.
