July 16, 2008

WACO, Texas - The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) announced the national award winners for NCAA Division I tennis in late May and Baylor's Lars Poerschke was named this year's winner of the Arthur Ashe Jr. Award for Leadership and Sportsmanship. Poerschke recently received his plaque from Alabama head coach Billy Pate.

The ITA/Arthur Ashe Award for Leadership and Sportsmanship goes to a player who has exhibited outstanding sportsmanship and leadership as well as scholastic, extracurricular and tennis achievements.

Poerschke, a three-time singles All-American, ended his illustrious career as one of Baylor's top three tennis players. With his 119-43 career singles mark, Poerschke tied Benedikt Dorsch for second-most career singles win and is No. 3 on Baylor's dual match career singles victories with 75. His doubles mark of 102-29 ranks No. 3 on Baylor's career winning percentage list at .779 while the 102 victories rank him No. 2 on Baylor's list behind Benjamin Becker's 104.