2004-05 FERRIS MEN’S & WOMEN'S TENNIS AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Senior Jason Cole & Sophomore Molly Basha Garner MVP Award Recognition

Jason Cole

Molly Basha

The 6-3 Cole has posted an 11-13 overall singles record to date this campaign, including a 6-11 mark at the number one singles flight. In doubles play, he holds a current 14-8 overall record this season and is ranked 25th in the latest (April 11) Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) National Doubles Rankings along with senior Martin Hoch (Bludenz, Austria). The duo, which is 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 presently has a 71-29 career singles record and an 80-31 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.

The 5-7 Basha has posted a 20-4 overall singles record to date this campaign, including an 8-1 GLIAC mark at the number one singles flight. She also claimed runner-up singles recognition at the 2004 ITA Great Lakes Regional Championships held Sept. 17-19 in Midland. Basha, who claimed All-GLIAC First Team kudos this season, currently is 32-10 in career singles matches and 30-8 all-time in doubles competition. She presently ranks first regionally and 19th nationally in singles play.

The Most Improved Player Award for the men's squad was presented to freshman Lewis DeGeneault (Eugene, Ore./Sheldon). The 5-9 DeGeneault has notched a 13-6 overall singles record to date during his initial Bulldog season. He was also 6-1 overall in conference singles action this campaign. DeGeneault, who's won two of his three doubles matches this year, currently has emerged victorious in eight of his last 11 singles outings.

Sophomore Jenna O'Dell (Escanaba) received the Most Improved Player Award for the women's squad. O'Dell currently ranks third among the team's leaders this season with 16 singles victories (16-6) and also holds a 14-6 doubles ledger. Seven of her 16 singles victories this campaign have came at the number five flight. In her two seasons at FSU, O'Dell has recorded a 30-15 singles record along with a 15-10 doubles mark. Last season (2003-04), she was 14-9 in singles play along with 1-4 in doubles action. O'Dell finished conference regular-season action with a 9-1 singles performance.

The Bulldog men's team, which is ranked 34th in the latest (April 6) ITA Division II National Rankings, placed second overall at the GLIAC Tournament (April 15-16) held in Midland this season. The Bulldogs are presently 11-9 overall this year and ranked second in the Great Lakes Region.

Ferris State's women's team concluded the regular-season campaign with a 15-2 overall record under Ramos. The Bulldog women also placed second overall at the GLIAC Tournament (Oct. 22-23) in Midland for the second consecutive season after finishing regular-season action with a second place 9-1 league mark. FSU is presently ranked second in the regional poll and 19th nationally in women's tennis action.

Both Ferris State teams are expected to receive a bid and potentially serve as a regional host for the opening two rounds of the NCAA Division II Championships slated to be held May 6-8 at campus sites when the official announcement is made later this week.