MEN'S TENNIS

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BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo men's tennis team presented its team awards for the 2004-05 season at the annual Athletic Awards Banquet held at the Millennium Hotel on May 3.

Head coach Russ Crispell made the following presentations: Matt Kennedy (Mississauga, Ontario/Erindale) earned the Top Newcomer Award; Albert Alant (Pretoria, South Africa/Niskayuna (NY)) earned the Most Improved Player Award; Mike Rockman (Toronto, Ontario/Thornlea) received the Coaches' Award; and Nick Zieziula (Hamburg, NY/St. Francis) was named Most Outstanding.

Matt Kennedy

The Top Newcomer Award is presented to the individual student-athlete who distinguishes himself as the most talented new player on the team or the individual who accomplishes the greatest achievements as a first-year player. Kennedy joined the Bulls after two years at Vincennes (IN) University on the junior college level. With the Bulls this season, Kennedy compiled a 16-13 record in singles play, seeing action primarily at the number five spot, and was 2-3 against Mid-American Conference competition. He also was 12-18 in doubles and paired with Alant to post a 5-9 record at number three.

Albert Alant

The Most Improved Player Award is presented to the student-athlete who has made the greatest stride or improvement in his performance from the previous season or from the beginning of the season to the end of the season. Alant, playing at the sixth singles spot, but also seeing playing time at fourth and fifth singles, was 9-13 in 2004-05. Alant went 2-2 in his MAC matches. He also posted an 8-15 doubles record, including his 5-9 mark alongside Kennedy.

Mike Rockman

The Coaches' Award is selected by the head coach and is given to the student-athlete who best exemplifies the team virtues as defined by the head coach. The recipient is one who stands out in dedication, commitment, unselfishness and enthusiasm towards helping the team improve. Rockman, who was selected as the Top Newcomer in 2004, led the Bulls with a 27-12 singles record, breaking Zieziula's mark for most singles victories in a season. Playing second singles, Rockman went 14-6 in dual meets (3-2 in the MAC) and posted a 13-6 record in tournament play and was an All-MAC Second Team selection. He won the B division doubles title at November's Dartmouth Big Green Invitational with three victories paired with Princeton's Jonathan Leslie. Rockman compiled a 12-17 doubles record in 2004-05.

Nick Zieziula

The Most Outstanding Player Award is given to the student-athlete who makes the most significant contribution to the accomplishments of the team through his skills and leadership. Zieziula, named the Coaches' Award winner the previous two seasons, also earned All-MAC Second Team honors as he became UB's winningest singles player in Division I history with 69 victories in his four-year career. He finished the 2004-05 campaign with a 15-22 singles mark and 14-20 doubles record. Playing first singles, Zieziula posted a 9-11 dual-meet mark and went 2-3 against MAC opposition. He won his last three singles matches of the season, including a 6-0, 6-2 win over IPFW's Landry Nzudie to lead the Bulls into the semifinals of the MAC Championships. It was the second consecutive year that the Bulls advanced into the tournament's semifinal round.

UB finished 9-9 overall and 3-2 in the MAC, placing third among the six schools, its highest finish since joining the MAC in 1999. The three league wins were also a record for the program.