June 4, 2005
WACO, Texas - For just the second time in program history, the Baylor women's team has an All-American singles player and for the second straight year, men's tennis has three Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-Americans and Zuzana Zemenova, Benedikt Dorsch, Benjamin Becker and Matija Zgaga were named by the ITA to its elite list on Friday.
Zemenova, a freshman, made Baylor women's tennis history by becoming the program's first NCAA Champion. Once she made it the to round of 16, Zemenova became the program's second singles All-American and the third overall All-American. Former player Jahanvi Parekh earned singles recognition in 2000 and Parekh and Katja Kovac were a doubles selection in 2001. En route to the NCAA title, Zemenova became the first unseeded player to claim the title. She finished the season ranked No. 14, nine spots up from her pre-NCAA Tournament ranking. She completed the season with a 29-5 record and a six-match win streak.
Dorsch, for the third straight season, became a double All-American and is the Bears' first three-time double selection. He has earned singles honors each of his seasons at Baylor and teamed with Reiner Neurohr in 2002 for doubles kudos and paired with Matija Zgaga the past two season to earn All-American status. In addition, Dorsch reclaimed his No. 1 ranking after winning the 2005 NCAA singles championship. Dorsch ends his illustrious three-year career as a six-time All-American, three in singles and three in doubles, a 36-2 record in his final season and a career singles mark of 119-15. He is Baylor's all-time leader in win percentage in both singles and doubles with an .880 singles mark and has .790 (83-22) doubles mark. In addition, he is a three-time Big 12 Player of the Year, 2004 ITA Player of the Year and will undoubtedly duplicate the honor this season. He has twice been named most outstanding player of the NCAA Championships (2004 and 2005). During Dorsch's three years at Baylor he has led the team to a 93-5 record, three Big 12 championships (both regular season and Big 12 Tournament), a team NCAA title (2004), and a team runnerup finish (2005).
Becker assured himself of his third singles All-American selection by being a top 16 seed in the singles bracket. In addition the four-year letterman advanced to the NCAA Round of 16 in the singles competition which also earned All-American distinction. He finished his Baylor career as the program's leader in singles and doubles victories with 141 and 104, respectively. Over Becker's four seasons the Bears posted a 120-7 team record. The senior finished the season ranked No. 11 in the final ITA listings.
Zgaga, a sophomore, teamed with Dorsch to form one of the program's most successful doubles tandems. Together they posted 40 career victories good for No. on BU's career chart, including 23 this season, and earned All-American status in 2004 and 2005.
