Nick Zieziula

BUFFALO, NY - University at Buffalo student-athlete Nick Zieziula (Hamburg, NY/St. Francis) has been named to the 2004 Academic All-Mid-American Conference men's tennis team. The league announced the six-member team on Thursday. It was the first time that a member of the UB men's tennis team had been included on the Academic All-MAC squad.

Zieziula, a junior anthropology major with a 3.25 grade point average, led the Bulls with a school-record 24 singles victories in the 2003-04 season. Playing second singles, Zieziula finished with a 24-15 overall mark, including a 14-5 record in tournament play and reaching the consolation finals of the ITA Northeast Regional Tournament last fall. He also put together a 20-14 (3-2 MAC) doubles record, primarily playing at the number one spot with Randy Rocchio (East Amherst, NY/Williamsville East). Zieziula and Rocchio combined to win the doubles title at September's Can-Am Invitational held at UB's University Tennis Club. Earlier in the week, Rocchio became UB's first All-MAC selection with his inclusion on the second team.

Zieziula was instrumental in helping the Bulls to their best league showing in 2004 as UB scored a pair of regular season conference wins to finish fourth in the MAC standings. The Bulls also earned their first MAC Tournament victory with a 4-1 win over Toledo in the quarterfinal round of the 2004 championships in Muncie, IN last week before bowing to eventual champion Western Michgian in the semifinals. UB finished with a 9-12 overall record and was 2-3 in league play.

Joining Zieziula on the Academic All-MAC list are four individuals who also garnered All-MAC honors this week, Tommy Dennis and Jose Orozco of Western Michigan and Willy Gali and Juan Pablo Barriga of Northern Illinois. Ball State's Paul Newman completes the six-player team.

The honor is for a student-athlete who has excelled in athletics and academics. To qualify, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests for that particular sport. First-year students and junior college transfers in their first year of residence are not eligible for the award. Outstanding academic and athletic accomplishments from the current season only are considered.