April 23, 2004

MOBILE, Ala. - Seven nationally-ranked singles and doubles standouts highlight the All-Sun Belt teams announced Thursday night at a pre-tournament banquet for the 2004 Sun Belt Conference Men's and Women's Tennis Championships.

On the men's side, South Alabama's Franticek Babej (ranked 37th nationally), Andreas Siljestrom (82nd), Denver's Nejc Smole (83rd), Arkansas-Little Rock' s Bastian Faisst (95th), UL Lafayette's Evghenii Corduneanu (112th) were honored as All-Sun Belt singles players. New Mexico State's Danilo Zivanovic rounded out the singles players.

Smole (Ljubljana, Slovenia) led the Pioneers (13-9) with a 15-6 record at No. 1 singles. He is 2-1 against ranked opponents and has won five consecutive matches heading into this weekend's SBC tournament.

In doubles, USA's Babej and David Kepka, ranked 36th nationally, were honored as were Middle Tennessee's Brandon Allan and Kai Schledorn (56th). UALR's Sebastian Falk and Faisst rounded out the trio.

On the women's side, Middle Tennessee's Manon Kruse and Jennifer Klaschka collected both singles and doubles accolades. Kruse, ranked 41st individually, and doubles partner Carien Venter are ranked 10th nationally and were one of three All-Sun Belt doubles teams.

Other women's singles players honored were Denver's Yanick Dullens (Susteren, Netherlands) and Suzana Maksovic (Helsingborg, Sweden), New Orleans' Lucie Mazinova and South Alabama's Ana Rupic.

Dullens is 16-2 at No. 1 singles for the Pioneers. She has won seven consecutive matches and has led Denver to a 17-1 overall record. Maksovic is 13-4 at No. 2 singles for the Pioneers. She has helped Denver to 14 consecutive dual match wins.

Doubles teams joining Kruse and Venter were Klaschka and partner Laura McNamara and Denver's Dullens and Maksovic, ranked 42nd nationally.

Dullens and Maksovic have posted a 16-2 record at No. 1 doubles. The duo is 22-4 overall since last fall.

Included in the awards presentation were the team academic awards. On the men's side, South Alabama took top honors with a 3.57 GPA, while Arkansas State and New Mexico State had the top women's GPA (3.52).

The tournament starts Friday morning at the University of South Alabama and the Mobile Tennis Center.

MEN'S ALL-SUN BELT TEAM

SINGLES

Franticek Babej, South Alabama
Evghenii Corduneanu, Louisiana-Lafayette
Bastian Faisst, UALR
Nejc Smole, Denver
Andreas Siljestrom, Middle Tennessee
Danilo Zivanovic, New Mexico State

DOUBLES
Babej-David Kepka, South Alabama
Faisst-Sebastian Falk, UALR
Kai Schledorn-Brandon Allan, Middle Tennessee

WOMEN'S ALL-SUN BELT TEAM

SINGLES

Yanick Dullens, Denver
Jennifer Klaschka, Middle Tennessee
Manon Kruse, Middle Tennessee
Suzana Maksovic, Denver
Lucie Mazinova, New Orleans
Ana Rupic, South Alabama

DOUBLES

Dullens-Maksovic, Denver
Klaschka-Laura McNamara, Middle Tennessee
Kruse-Venter, Middle Tennessee