April 30, 2008

WACO, Texas - The NCAA Division I Men's Tennis Subcommittee has selected 64 singles players to participate in the 2008 NCAA Division I Tennis Championships hosted by the University of Tulsa May 21-26. All matches will be played at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center in Tulsa, Okla. Baylor's Lars Poerschke and Denes Lukacs have been selected for the singles bracket.

Poerschke, ranked No. 8, is seeded in the 1-8 range while the ninth-ranked Lukacs is a 9-16 seed. Along with the prestige of receiving a top seeding in the tournament, players who are seeded automatically obtain All-America status. This marks Poerschke's fourth appearance at the NCAA Tournament and his third time to earn All-American in singles, while Lukacs earned All-America honors for the first time.

Lukacs, making his first appearance in the individual portion of the tournament, leads the Bears this season with a team-best 41-9 season record which ranks No. 3 on Baylor single season victory list. An All-Big 12 selection, Lukacs sports a 21-4 dual match record and was named the Big 12 Championships' most outstanding player after leading the Bears to the tournament title.

Poerschke, now a three-time All-American, is 17-6 on the season after missing the fall portion of the Bears' schedule. The four-time All-Big 12 honoree is 12-6 in dual match play this spring. The senior's 116 career single victories ranks No. 3 on Baylor's singles victory list while his 100 career doubles wins ranks No. 2 on the Baylor charts.

Poerschke and Lukacs now join former Baylor standouts Benjamin Becker, Benedikt Dorsch and Johann Jooste as ITA All-America selections in singles.

"It is a tremendous honor to be to recognized as an All-American and one that is well deserved for both Lars and Denes. I know it was a personal goal for each of them this season and goes to show how hard work is rewarded," said Baylor head coach Matt Knoll.