April 22, 2002

SAN BRUNO, Calif. - Santa Clara University men's tennis coach Sean Burns earned his fourth West Coast Conference Coach of the Year honor, the league announced today.

Additionally, freshman Chris Lam was named the WCC Freshman of the Year, while earning first team All-League honos. Sophomores Erich Chen and Rick Ruso were also recognized, making the honorable mention All-Doubles Team listing.

For the first time in WCC tennis history, and only the second time in league history, three coaches were honored with the Coach of the Year award. Burns shared this year's honor with Loyola Marymount's Nik DeVore and Pepperdine's Peter Smith. Burns, who also earned the recognition in 1997, 1998 and 2000, lead the Bronco program to an 18-8 record, and its highest national ranking, peaking at No. 55 earlier this month.

Lam earned the program's first Freshman of the Year honor, after going 25-9 in singles action this season. He posted a 16-7 record in dual matches, including a 7-3 league mark, playing mostly No. 1 singles. The Honolulu native also notched an 11-match win streak that included three victories over nationally-ranked opponents, including No. 24 Danny Westerman of Wisconsin. Currently anked 104th himself, Lam's debut in the national rankings marked the first for the Broncos. And, although currently not ranked in doubles, Lam also made history in December with then-partner Rick Ruso when the tandem began the season ranked 53rd, marking the first national ranking ever for a doubles tandem in the Bronco program.

Ruso and Chen paired together midway through the spring, and although the tandem posted a non-winning record, league coaches recognized the quality of their play. The duo led the Broncos at the No. 1 doubles spot and went 4-10, with six of those losses by three sets or less. Ruso and Chen upset the nation's 45th-ranked tandem in the regular-season finale at Fresno State.

2002 Men's Tennis All-WCC Team

Tri-Coaches of the Year
Nik DeVore, Loyola Marymount
Peter Smith, Pepperdine
Sean Burns, Santa Clara

Player of the Year
Al Garland, Pepperdine

Freshman of the Year
Chris Lam, Santa Clara

Singles, First Team
Al Garland (PEP)
Chris Lam (SCU)
Peter Malacek (PORT)
Travis Parrott (PORT)
Ricardo Rizo (USD)
Stefan Suter (PEP)

Singles, Honorable Mention
Thomas Burgemeister (SMC)
Joachim Lien (USF)
Tigran Martirosyan (LMU)
Pablo Pires de Almeida (USF)

Doubles, First Team
Parrott/Malacek (PORT)
Garland/Berg (PEP)
Suter/Graeff (PEP)

Doubles, Honorable Mention
Erich Chen / Rick Ruso (SCU)
Cerda/Pongsrikul (USD)
Martirosyan/Graeubig (LMU)