FERRIS STATE WELL REPRESENTED AMONG ITA REGIONAL WINNERS

Bulldog Tennis Teams Claim Three Great Lakes Region Awards

Senior captain Jason Cole (Rockford) of the men’s tennis team was chosen as the region's Senior Player of the Year on the men's side. In addition, freshman Leila Salek (Croydon Surrey, United Kingdom/Riddlesdown) and fifth-year head coach Dave Ramos of the women's squad garnered ITA Women's Great Lakes Region Rookie of the Year and Coach of the Year accolades, respectively, in voting conducted by the region's awards committee.

The 2004-05 campaign marks the third consecutive season a Ferris men's player has claimed the region's highest individual honor as former player Jan Talian was named the 2002-03 ITA Great Lakes Region Senior Player of the Year and Francisco Valencia earned the same recognition in 2003-04. As a regional winner, Cole was also among eight finalists for the ITA National Player of the Year Award.

The 6-3 Cole posted a 12-13 overall singles record this campaign, including a 7-11 mark at the number one singles flight. In doubles play, he recorded a 15-10 overall record this season and was ranked 25th in the latest (April 11) ITA National Doubles Rankings along with fellow senior Martin Hoch (Bludenz, Austria). The duo, which was the second-ranked team in the Great Lakes Region, registered a 4-2 conference doubles ledger this campaign. The 2004 ITA Great Lakes Region Player To Watch Award recipient, who compiled a 72-29 career singles record and an 81-33 doubles mark, also advanced to the semifinal round in singles play at the fall 2004 ITA Great Lakes Regional Championships (Sept. 24-26) held in Midland, Mich. Cole picked up Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) First-Team accolades for the second year in a row this campaign after previously earning second-team recognition in each of his initial two seasons at FSU. He was also named the squad's 2004-05 Most Valuable Player Award winner.

A second-team 2004-05 All-GLIAC pick, Salek won 14 of her 15 singles matches during the fall campaign and was unbeaten (8-0) in league singles competition during her initial collegiate season. She emerged victorious in 19 of 20 singles encounters overall this campaign. The 5-6 Salek won all 15 of her completed singles matches in dual match play. In doubles action, she registered a 22-5 overall mark and was 13-3 at the number one doubles flight. Salek, who was ranked 25th nationally in doubles play along with sophomore Marissa Muchow (Green Bay, Wis./Ashwaubenon) in the latest ITA National Doubles Rankings, won nine of her final 10 singles outings this year.

Ramos led FSU's women’s squad to its 10th consecutive and 15th all-time NCAA Division II Tournament appearance this season where the Bulldogs suffered a 5-0 loss to Valdosta State (Ga.) in the Sweet Sixteen round last Thursday (May 12) at Altamonte Springs. The squad reached the final round of 16 for the second time in four years and the sixth time overall by defeating fellow GLIAC member Grand Valley State 5-1 (May 6) in the regional finals at FSU's Racquet and Fitness Center in Big Rapids, Mich. The Bulldogs finished the year with a 17-3 overall record and earned their fifth regional crown in the last seven seasons to date. Ferris also placed second in both the GLIAC regular-season and tournament competition during the 2004-05 season.

In addition to coaching the women's squad, Ramos also served as Ferris' interim men's tennis coach this spring. The Bulldog men’s tennis team claimed its sixth consecutive regional championship by defeating Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) member Southern Indiana by a 5-4 score (May 6) in the regional title match. Ferris, which was 13-10 overall this campaign, advanced to the round of 16 for the ninth time in school history. FSU also made its eighth-straight and 11th all-time tournament bid after earning second-place recognition in the both the GLIAC's regular-season and tournament action. Ferris dropped a 5-1 setback to nationally top-ranked West Florida in the NCAA-II Sweet Sixteen last Wednesday (May 11).

Ferris State's women's team was ranked 18th in the latest (April 27) ITA Division II National Rankings while the men's squad was 35th overall in the national poll.

As the governing body of collegiate tennis, the ITA promotes both the athletic and academic achievements of the collegiate tennis community. The ITA, which was founded in 1956 and is based in Skillman, N.J., administers numerous regional and national championships, the ITA Collegiate Summer Circuit, presented by the United States Tennis Association, and the ITA Collegiate Tennis Rankings for men’s and women’s tennis at the NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA and junior college levels. The ITA also has a comprehensive awards program for players and coaches to honor excellence in academics, leadership and sportsmanship.