FERRIS MEN'S TENNIS PLAYERS CLAIM ALL-GLIAC KUDOS

Three Bulldog Student-Athletes Among All-Conference Honorees

Brenton Bacon

Mark Hammelman

Kyle Halberg

Three Ferris State University men's tennis players received All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) recognition for the 2005-06 campaign in an announcement made today (April 18) by the league office. The awards were presented in conjunction with the league's annual postseason tournament held last Friday and Saturday (April 14-15) at the Midland (Mich.) Community Tennis Center.

Freshman Brenton Bacon (Perth, Australia/Christ Church Grammer) and senior Mark Hammelman (Brookfield, Wis.) both earned All-GLIAC First Team honors while senior Kyle Halberg (Eugene, Ore./Sheldon) received second-team kudos.

In addition, Bacon was honored as the league's Freshman of the Year Award recipient. Mercyhurst's Mariano Fava claimed Player of the Year accolades and Zane Colestock of Northwood garnered GLIAC Coach of the Year honors.

The league’s eight head coaches participated in the balloting process. Nine student-athletes were named to both the first and second-team squads while five others tallied honorable mention laurels.

The 6-0 Bacon has posted a team-best 18-5 overall singles mark to date this campaign, including a 9-4 mark at the number one flight in dual match competition during his initial Bulldog campaign. Bacon also has tallied a 25-4 overall doubles record to date and is presently ranked 14th in the latest (April 10) Fila Division II National Singles Rankings along with third in the Great Lakes Regional listing. Bacon and Hammelman have compiled a 17-3 dual record at the top doubles spot this year and were a perfect 7-0 in GLIAC regular-season action. The duo is currently the region's top-ranked tandem and listed seventh in the nation. Bacon also reached the singles quarterfinal round and advanced to the doubles semifinals at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Great Lakes Region Championships held last fall (Sept. 23-25) in Midland, Mich.

Hammelman, who claimed FSU's 2002-03 Player To Watch Award, currently has compiled a 14-12 overall singles mark this season including a 4-1 record at the number one singles spot. Hammelman was 5-2 in league singles play this year. Along with Bacon, he has recorded a 25-4 doubles record to date this campaign. Hammelman, who is presently 64-37 in career singles play and 67-42 in doubles action, was an All-GLIAC Honorable Mention honoree in 2003-04 before attaining second-team laurels last season. The 6-0 Hammelman currently is listed 12th regionally in singles action.

The 6-5 Halberg presently has recorded a 12-6 singles record and a 12-8 doubles ledger to date this year en route to earning second-team All-GLIAC recognition for the third consecutive campaign. Halberg, who holds career records of 41-24 (singles) and 50-26 (doubles), triumphed in six of his seven conference singles encounters in 2005-06. He also teamed with junior Kevin Brundle (Grand Blanc) and compiled a 5-2 doubles ledger in GLIAC play at the number two flight.

Ferris State, which is ranked 34th in the latest (April 7) Fila Division II Collegiate National Rankings, placed second overall at the GLIAC Tournament this season under head coach Dave Ramos. The Bulldogs, who are presently 13-7 overall this season and ranked third in the Great Lakes Region, are expected to receive a bid to compete in the NCAA Division II Championships slated to be held May 4-6 at campus sites when the official announcement is made late next week.

The Bulldog men’s tennis team advanced to the NCAA-II Sweet Sixteen for the ninth time in school history and made its 11th all-time tournament bid during the 2004-05 season.

FSU is slated to host Albion in a non-league match Tuesday, April 18, beginning at 3 p.m. (EDT) in FSU's Racquet and Fitness Center at Big Rapids, Mich. The Bulldogs will then square off against Hope in their regular-season finale Tuesday, April 25, with the non-conference tilt set for a 4 p.m. (EDT) start in the Racquet and Fitness Center.