May 3, 2005

WACO, Texas - For the third straight season, Baylor's Benedikt Dorsch has been named Big 12 Player of the Year and Lars Poerschke was picked to share Freshman of the Year honors with Texas A&M's Jerry Makowski the conference office announced Monday.

Dorsch, who hails from Weiden, Germany, is the first tennis player in Big 12 history to win Player of the Year in three consecutive seasons. The senior is only the second conference athlete in any sport to win top player honors three years in a row (Maria Boden, Oklahoma State, Women's golf, 1999-2001). Dorsch, the Big 12 men's tournament 's most outstanding performer, is ranked No. 2 in the most recent ITA rankings. He is 25-2 on the season. BU's Johann Jooste is the only other Bear to be named player of the year, he earned the honor in 1999.

Poerschke, a freshman from Buseck, Germany, becomes the sixth straight Baylor player to earn Freshman of the Year honors. Poerschke is 35-11 on the season and currently ranked No. 50. Baylor has swept Freshman of the Years honors since 2000 when Zoltan Papp was honored. Reiner Neurohr was the 2001 recipient, Benjamin Becker garnered 2002 kudos, Ivor Lovrak was the 2003 honoree and Matija Zgaga shared the honor in 2004.

Texas Tech's Tim Siegel was named Big 12 Coach of the Year.

Dorsch, Poerschke and senior Benjamin Becker were named All-Big 12 in singles. Becker is a four-time honoree and Dorsch garnered his third selection. Dorsch and sophomore Matija Zgaga, currently ranked No. 2 nationally in doubles, were second-time All-Big 12 doubles selections and Poerschke and sophomore Michal Kokta were named all-Big 12 as well.

Player of the Year - Benedikt Dorsch, Baylor University
Newcomer of the Year - Radek Nijaki, Texas Tech
Freshman of the Year - Lars Poerschke, Baylor University and Jerry Makowski, Texas A&M
Coach of the Year - Tim Siegel, Texas Tech

All-Big 12 Singles
Benjamin Becker, Baylor, Sr.**
Benedikt Dorsch, Baylor, Sr.**
Lars Poerschke, Baylor, Fr.
Marko Bundalo, Colorado, Jr.
Ondrej Fukala, Oklahoma, Sr.
Marek Velicka, Oklahoma, So.
Tomas Bohunicky, Oklahoma State, Jr.
Mark Van Elden, Oklahoma State, Sr.
Callum Beale, Texas, Jr.
Travis Helgeson, Texas, Fr.
Jerry Makowski, Texas A&M, Fr.
Ante Matijevic, Texas A&M, Sr.
Radek Nijaki, Texas Tech, So.**
Bojan Szumanski, Texas Tech, So.**

All-Big 12 Doubles
Benedikt Dorsch/Matija Zgaga, Baylor**
Lars Poerschke/Michal Kokta, Baylor
Tommy Garrison/Ondrej Fukala, Oklahoma**
Boris Kuharic/Juan Felipe Diaz, Oklahoma State**
Callum Beale/Travis Helgeson, Texas
Brett Joelson/Ante Matijevic, Texas A&M

** - Unanimous Selection
Ties in the voting created additional positions among singles players.