Dec. 12, 2001

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Members of both the Wake Forest men's and women's tennis teams are listed in the final fall national rankings, as released by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) this week.

Deacon junior Bea Bielik (Valley Stream, N.Y.) remains atop the national singles rankings. Listed as the No. 1 women's college player in the country entering the season, Bielik strengthened her grip on the top spot by winning the singles title at the National Indoor Championships in November. She finished the fall season with a 7-1 record, defeating six ranked opponents during that span.

This marks the second straight year that Bielik has entered the spring season ranked No. 1. The two-time ITA All-American owns a career record of 72-11 (.867) in singles.

Bielik is also teamed up with Wake Forest senior Janet Bergman (Pinehurst, N.C.) to form the nation's third-ranked doubles team in the final fall rankings. The Deacon duo has competed together for two and a half seasons, and compiled a 13-2 record this fall after advancing to the finals at National Indoors. Bielik and Bergman have pocketed All-America honors the last two years as a doubles team and own a career record together of 55-8 (.873).

Bergman, an All-America in singles as well, is also ranked in singles, checking in at No. 12 in the rankings. Ranked 13th in the preseason rankings, Bergman posted a 9-5 record this fall.

Wake Forest senior Maren Haus (Brielle, N.J.) also remains in the rankings, checking in at No. 67 after being ranked 43rd in the preseason. Freshman Katie Martzolf (Indianapolis, Ind.) makes her first appearance in the collegiate singles rankings at No. 110. Martzolf posted an 8-2 record this fall, including a win over a Top 10 opponent.

David Loewenthal, a sophomore on the Wake Forest men's team, vaulted into the rankings after blazing a 14-6 fall singles record, including advancing to the quarterfinals of the National Indoor Championships this fall. The Franklin Lakes, N.J., native went from unranked in the preseason September poll, to 30th in the Dec. 11 fall rankings. Loewenthal and doubles partner Trent Brendon (Jr., Victorville, Ca.) are listed 48th in the national fall doubles rankings. They put together a 13-3 mark in fall play, including a six-win run through the Region Championships all the way to the semifinals.

The Wake Forest women's tennis team opens its 2002 spring season on Feb. 2, hosting Tennessee in a dual match. The men's team returns to action Jan. 18-20, hosting the ACC Indoor Championships at the WFU Indoor Tennis Center.

WFU in the ITA Final Fall Rankings
Women
Singles
1. Bea Bielik (Jr.)
12. Janet Bergman (Sr.)
67. Maren Haus (Sr.)
110. Katie Martzolf (Fr.)
Doubles
3. Janet Bergman/Bea Bielik

Men
Singles
30. David Loewenthal (Soph.)
Doubles
48. Trent Brendon/David Loewenthal