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

March 8, 2005


Tennis Players Earn USA South Honors
Brantley Sets School Record for Career Wins

FERRUM, VA – Ferrum College had two men's tennis players earn Player of the Week honors in the USA South Athletic Conference today for their play in last week's action.

Junior Matt Brantley (Norlina, N.C./Warren County) has been named Men's Tennis Player of the Week, while junior Thomas James (Lawrenceville, Ga./Collins Hill) has been named Men's Tennis Rookie of the Week.  These are the first Player of the Week awards fore both players this season.

Both players helped Ferrum go 3-1 last week during its annual Spring Break trip to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.  Ferrum beat USA South opponent North Carolina Wesleyan College 7-0 February 26 en route to Hilton Head Island.  The Panthers then lost 6-1 to York (PA) College March 1, beat Cabrini College 4-2 March 3rd, and beat Marywood College 5-2 March 4.

     Feb. 26  -  Ferrum 7, N.C. Wesleyan 0
     Mar. 1  -  York 6, Ferrum 1
     Mar. 3  -  Ferrum 4, Cabrini 2
     Mar. 4  -  Ferrum 5, Marywood 2

Brantley went 6-1 overall last week.  He was 3-1 at #1-2 singles and 3-0 at #1 doubles.  His only setback was to York's Ryan Weber, in which he lost a tight three-set match 4-6, 7-5, 1-0 (10-5).  Also nominated this week was Worth Richardson of Christopher Newport University.

Brantley also set a new school record for career overall wins last week.  He came into the season with a combined 77-23 career record and has posted a 5-2 singles and 3-2 doubles record thus far.  His current record of 85-27 surpasses that of former Ferrum standout Rod Baker '03, who tallied 82 win from 2000-03.  Baker is currently in his first season as head coach of the Ferrum women's tennis program.  Brantley needs just one more singles win to top Baker's career singles record of 47 wins.  Brantley now holds nine Ferrum tennis records.

James is a junior academically but holds sophomore athletic eligibility.  He is in his first season of collegiate tennis.  James went 3-1 at #6 singles and 2-1 at #3 doubles last week for the Panthers.  He is currently 5-2 in singles, 2-1 in doubles, and 7-3 overall this season.  Also nominated for the award this week was John Mook of Christopher Newport.

Ferrum is currently 4-1 overall and 1-0 in the USA South under seventh-year Head Coach Gary Holden.  The Panthers are back in action March 13 at Bridgewater College, at home March 16 against Greensboro College, at Randolph-Macon College March 17, and at Christopher Newport March 18.  The Greensboro and CNU matches are USA South contests.  For more information, please contact the Ferrum College Sports Information Office at (540) 365-4306.
 

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