Ferrum Release 4-1-03

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Gary Holden, Sports Info. Director
(540) 365-4306

April 1, 2003

Men's Tennis Defeats Emory & Henry
Two School Records Set, Zakkak Named Dixie Rookie of the Week

Ferrum, Va. -- The Ferrum College men's tennis team improved to 11-2 overall with a 5-2 non-conference win over Emory & Henry College this afternoon at home, setting a pair of school records along the way.

The Panthers established a new school record for season wins (since joining the NCAA Division III ranks in 1985-86) with their 11th win. The previous record was set during the 1998-99 season in which Ferrum finished 10-7. Ferrum's current 6-match winning streak is also a new school record. The previous longest streak was five matches from April 1-27, 2000.

Freshmen Gabe Zakkak (Midland, Va./Liberty) and Paul Matthews (Richmond, Va./J.R. Tucker) were straight set winners at #1 and #2 singles, respectively. Senior Rod Baker (Maumee, Ohio/Maumee) and junior Matt Rhodes (Virginia Beach, Va./Cox) also won in straight sets at #4 and #6 singles.

Ferrum opened the afternoon by sweeping all three doubles matches. Zakkak and Baker teamed to win at #1 doubles, while Matthews and freshman Matt Brantley (Norlina, N.C./Warren County) won at #2 doubles, and Rhodes and freshman Erich Trier (Middleburg, Va./Loudoun Valley) won at #3 doubles. Zakkak, pictured above, has been named Dixie Conference Men's Tennis Rookie of the Week for the third time this season. He won both his #1 singles and both #1 doubles matches last week, played in Defiance, Ohio, March 29. Zakkak is 15-2 in singles this season, 10-6 in doubles, and 25-8 overall. He needs just one more singles win to tie the school record of 16 season singles wins, set in 2002 by former Panther standout and #1 singles player Randy Farleigh. Zakkak earned Dixie Rookie of the Week honors this season as well on March 11 and March 18.

Ferrum is currently 11-2 overall and will host St. Mary's (Md.) College Friday, April 4, at 3 p.m. The Panthers will then host the Bud Skeens Memorial Tournament on Saturday, April 5, starting at 9 a.m. Joining Ferrum in this year's tournament will be St. Mary's, Villa Julie (Md.) College, and the University of the District of Columbia. Ferrum's weekend will close out with a Dixie Conference match Sunday, April 6, at home against reigning Dixie Conference champion Methodist College. For more information, please contact the Ferrum sports information office at (540) 365-4306.
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