Kyle Halberg

Martin Hoch

FIVE BULLDOG MEN'S TENNIS PLAYERS GARNER ALL-GLIAC RECOGNITION

Ferris State Registers Three First-Team Honorees
In Annual League Balloting Process

The Bulldogs had three first team all-league honorees, including senior Francisco Valencia (Carabobo, Venezuela) along with juniors Martin Hoch (Bludenz, Austria) and Jason Cole (Rockford). Junior Kyle Halberg (Eugene, Oregon) attained second-team kudos while sophomore Mark Hammelman (Brookfield, Wis.) received honorable mention accolades. Nine individuals were named to both the first and second-team squads while three others garnered honorable mention laurels. Ferris and Northwood, which both had three first-team selections, led the conference with five honorees apiece.

A four-time (2001-04) All-GLIAC First-Teamer, Valencia has compiled both a 16-7 overall singles and doubles record to date this campaign. Valencia, who's presently the Great Lakes Region's second-ranked singles player and number six doubles competitor, also is 43rd in the latest (April 12) Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Division II national singles rankings. He won his final six regular-season individual matches this campaign including GLIAC Tournament (April 16-17) victories over Northwood's Gerrit Lotz and Wayne State's Sebastian Foka, who are ranked first and fourth, respectively, in the latest regional rankings. Valencia registered a 4-2 singles and 6-0 doubles record in conference matches this season.

The 6-3 Cole earned first-team honors after previously picking up second-team kudos two consecutive seasons (2002-03). The two-time (2002-03) GLIAC All-Academic Team member is presently 21-5 overall in singles play and 20-7 in doubles action to date this year. He earned both regional singles and doubles runner-up recognition at the 2003 ITA Great Lakes Regional Championships held last fall (Sept. 26-28) at Midland, Mich. Cole, who's currently ranked second regionally in doubles play and seventh in the singles field, teamed with former Bulldog Jan Talian to win the regional doubles crown and place second overall in the Division II draw at the 2002 Omni Hotels National Small College Championships (10/17-20) in Corpus Christi, Texas. Cole was 7-0 in GLIAC singles play and 6-1 in conference doubles matches this season.

Hoch received first-team All-GLIAC plaudits for the third-straight campaign after posting a 13-11 singles mark and a 17-7 doubles performance during regular-season play this year. The 6-1 Hoch won five of seven league singles outings and was unbeaten (6-0) in GLIAC doubles competition. Hoch is currently the region's fourth-ranked singles and sixth-ranked doubles player. He presently holds a 53-21 (.716) career singles record and a 38-27 (.587) doubles mark to date.

The 6-5 Halberg recorded a 12-6 singles record and a 16-6 doubles ledger during the regular-season en route to second-team All-GLIAC recognition. Halberg, who's in his initial season with the Bulldogs after transferring from NCAA-I member the University of Oregon, emerged victorious in six of his seven conference singles encounters. He also teamed with Cole and compiled a 6-1 doubles ledger in GLIAC play.

Hammelman, who claimed FSU's 2002-03 Player To Watch Award, concluded regular-season action with a 17-6 singles mark. He is presently 13-10 at the number three doubles spot. Hammelman also was 6-1 in league singles play this year.

The Bulldogs, who are presently 14-8 overall this season under second-year head coach Kevin Brandalik, earned league runner-up recognition for the fifth consecutive campaign at last weekend's (April 16-17) GLIAC Tournament in Midland. FSU, which is ranked 27th nationally, is likely to earn its seventh consecutive NCAA-II National Tournament bid when the official announcement is made late next week. Ferris is listed second in the most recent Great Lakes Regional poll behind league champion Northwood.