May 22, 2008

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - - Junior men's tennis player Benedikt Fischer became the first-ever men's tennis player to be voted to the College Sports Information Directors Association (Co-SIDA) Academic All-District 4 First Team it was announced by the organization on Thursday. As a first team honoree, Fischer will now appear on the national ballot for Academic All-American honors.

Memphis has had just one other Tiger tennis player earn academic honors from Co-SIDA as former Tiger Michael LaHaie was a second team, all-district honoree in 2000.

Fischer is a two-time honoree on the Conference USA All-Academic team and has gone his entire athletic career never getting less than an A in his college coursework. He graduated in May with a degree in International Business in just two years at Memphis and will work on his MBA during his final season of college eligibility next year.

On the court, Fischer finished with a 14-8 overall record in singles play, including a 10-6 mark at No. 6 singles and a 2-0 mark at No. 5. Fischer was also 11-4 in doubles play this season, including a 7-3 mark at No. 3 doubles with three different partners during dual season play. Fischer is a two-year letterwinner at Memphis after transferring from Tyler Junior College in Texas, where he played one season.

A Dean's List member in each of his four semesters are Memphis, Fischer has also earned the C-USA Commissioner's Academic Medal and has been named to the Conference USA Academic Honor Roll in each of his previous two seasons.

Fischer will be the lone senior on next season's squad, which will include two juniors, three sophomores and two freshmen.