May 31, 2002

Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

The Santa Clara University men's tennis team recently completed its season, posting an 18-8 record, marking the program's sixth straight winning season. Under nine-year head coach Sean Burns, the Broncos also posted the second highest number of wins in a season for the Bronco program. For Burns, it was the eighth time in nine seasons that he has posted at least 12 wins. A few season highlights:

Sean Burns closed out his collegiate coaching career by earning his fourth West Coast Conference Coach of the Year honor. Burns, who also earned the recognition in 1997, 1998 and 2000, announced his retirement earlier this month and his decision to enter private business. In 2002, he led the Bronco program to 18 victories, its highest national ranking, and an undefeated home season. He retires as the winningest coach in Bronco history, with a 130-91 record over nine seasons, and 12 All-WCC selections.

SCU peaked at No. 55 in the April 10 edition of the ITA rankings, marking the highest ranking ever for the program, dating back to its debut in the national spotlight two seasons ago. After defeating three nationally-ranked teams two weeks prior, the Broncos vaulted 17 spots to 57th, which matched the highest ever for the program, when it debuted in the ITA poll April 12, 2000. SCU was ranked in 8 of the 15 ITA team polls this season. The Broncos finished the season ranked 71st.

The Broncos won 12 matches in a row during its toughest stretch of the season. The team's streak began March 2 and was highlighted by victories over top-50 programs such as the ACC's Clemson, Oregon from the Pac-10, Big-Ten power Wisconsin and the WCC's San Diego.

Chris Lam received the WCC Freshman of the Year award, the program's first such honor. He also became SCU's first nationally-ranked singles player, and peaked in the April 17 poll at No. 104. Lam made history in December with doubles partner Rick Ruso when the tandem began the season ranked 53rd, marking the first national doubles ranking ever in the Bronco program. Ruso, Lam and sophomore Erich Chen earned all-league honors, marking the fifth straight year Burns has had his student-athletes honored.

More than one-third of the Broncos' schedule was against nationally-ranked competition, including two top-10 programs. SCU went 5-5 against ranked opposition, with two of those losses coming by close 4-3 scores on the road, to No. 11 California and No. 61 Fresno State. Collectively, the team defeated six nationally-ranked singles players and two doubles tandems.

Sophomores Erich Chen and Michael Duong were honored for their successes at balancing athletics with academics. Duong earned first team honors for the Arthur Ashe Sports Scholar Award, while Chen received second-team recognition. Both starters were named to the West Coast Conference's All-Academic squad.

Victor Camargo, the Broncos' only senior on this past year's roster, made his mark on the recordbooks. He finished his career tied for the most combined doubles victories in a season, with 20. He is also listed in the top 10 for singles victories in one year, after posting 19 this during this past season.

The Broncos went 12-0 at home at the Santa Clara University Tennis Center. In April, fans were treated to the program's newest addition to its three-year-old facility, an electronic scoreboard. With its LED display, scores could be viewed from all courts and the stands, with each court having a wireless controller that allows in-progress match scores to be sent to the board during changeovers.

Freshman Francisco Zepponi shattered the single season victory mark in Bronco recordbooks with 30 wins. He produced a 10-match win streak while going undefeated in dual play in March and won nine straight during fall action, taking two titles.

In doubles action, the Broncos won 14 doubles points in 26 matches. Santa Clara went on to win 12 of those matches in singles play, including seven sweeps. Conversely, the Broncos won matches against San Francisco, UT Pan American and Clemson despite not winning the doubles point.

The team ended the regular conference season with an 8-1 mark. The WCC had three teams ranked nationally through the season. Additionally, the Broncos outscored dual match opponents 119-59.