Rinks, Monich To Compete At ITA All-American Tournament

Sept. 29, 2006

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Two members of the Michigan State's men's tennis team were selected to compete with the top collegiate players from around the nation at the 2006 Polo Ralph Lauren All-American Tennis Championships at the University of Tulsa, Sept. 30 - Oct. 8. Junior Nick Rinks earned a qualifying bid, while junior Adam Monich will try to work into the tournament from pre-qualifying rounds. The two are slated to play together as a doubles paring.

The Polo Ralph Lauren All-American Tennis Championships include five days of qualifying events that precede the Oct. 5-8 main draw. A 128-player pre-qualifying tournament takes place Sept. 30-Oct. 1. This feeds into 128-player and 64-doubles team qualifying tournaments Oct. 2-5, which then feeds into the 64-player, 32-doubles team main draws.

Monich begins pre-qualifying play Sept. 30, facing Rook Schellenberg of Texas. Monich needs three rounds of wins to advance to qualifying play. Ranked 77th in the nation in the preseason ITA poll, Rinks earned a qualifying round bid and will begin play Oct. 2, in first-round singles against an opponent to be determined. The two were selected for the qualifying round as a doubles paring, also beginning on Oct. 2.

Last week, in the Spartans' first event of the fall season, both Rinks and Monich competed in the ATP/Kings Island College Classic, in Mason, Ohio. Rinks went unbeaten, compiling a 3-0 record, while Monich went 1-1 in singles play. Two of Rinks' wins were against ranked opponents, defeating No. 57 Dan Hanegby of Brown and No. 77 Andrew Hamar of Wake Forest.

In doubles action, Rinks and Monich teamed up for a perfect 2-0 record, beating Brown's No. 41-ranked Chris Lee/Dan Hanegby combination. Rinks and Monich are currently ranked No. 43rd in the nation.

"Rinks and Monich had a quality season together last year and are very experienced," MSU head coach Gene Orlando stated. "They are off to a great start already, so I am excited to see what they can do."

Live scoring for the ITA-All American Tournament will be provided by the University of Tulsa at:

http://tulsahurricane.cstv.com/sports/m-tennis/spec-rel/tuls-m-tennis-scoreboard.html

ITA ALL-AMERICAN TOURNAMENT
Main Draw - 64 Singles Players; 32 Doubles Teams (Consolation for 1st-round losers)

Qualifying - 128 Singles Players; 64 Doubles Teams (16 singles/8 doubles advance - one round of consolation for 1st-round singles losers)

Prequalifying - 128 Singles Players; No Doubles (16 advance to qualifying)