FERRIS STATE MEN'S TENNIS DUO CLAIMS ITA REGIONAL AWARDS

Francisco Valencia Named Great Lakes Region Senior Player of the Year

The 2003-04 campaign marks the second consecutive season a Ferris 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. As a regional winner, Valencia is one of eight candidates for the ITA National Player of the Year Award which will be announced later this month.

A four-time (2001-04) All-GLIAC First-Teamer, Valencia has compiled both a 18-7 overall singles and 19-7 doubles record to date this campaign. Valencia, who's presently ranked 43rd nationally in the most recent (April 12) ITA National Singles rankings, was the Great Lakes Region's second-ranked singles player and number seven doubles competitor in the latest ITA Great Lakes Regional 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 third, 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 all-conference honors this campaign after previously picking up second-team kudos two consecutive seasons (2002-03). The two-time (2002-03) GLIAC All-Academic Team member is presently 23-5 overall in singles play and 23-7 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 fifth in the singles field, teamed with 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.

Ferris State, which is ranked 28th in the latest (April 29) ITA Division II national poll, advanced to the NCAA Division II Championships "Sweet Sixteen" by claiming one of two Great Lakes Regional tournament titles last weekend (May 6-7) at FSU’s Racquet and Fitness Center in Big Rapids, Mich. The Bulldogs beat Mercyhurst (5-0) in last Thursday's (May 6) first-round match before defeating league rival Wayne State (5-0) in Friday's (May 7) championship encounter to win their fifth straight regional crown.

The Bulldogs, who are currently 17-8 overall, are making their 10th overall NCAA-II Tournament appearance and eighth berth in the national finals round this season under second-year head coach Kevin Brandalik. FSU will face 38th-ranked Kutztown (Pa.) this Wednesday (May 12) in the NCAA-II Sweet Sixteen at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs, Fla.

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 Omni Hotels 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.