Wednesday, September 13, 2006

DeLand, Fla. -- Stetson men's tennis player Marcus Echtler (Venice, Fla.) is listed as 75th in the Intercollegiate Tennis Associations's Division I Singles Preseason National Rankings.

"This national preseason ranking is a great start for Marcus," said head coach Pierre Pilote. "He will now have the opportunity to improve on his national position with a very challenging fall tournament season coupled with the strongest spring schedule in school history."

While serving as the Hatters' no. 1, Echtler posted a 15-5 singles mark last season including a 3-1 A-Sun record. He was picked as the Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Year, named first-team all-conference and chosen as conference player of the week on March 21.

Echtler finished the season as the highest ranked player in the Atlantic Sun at 113th, while also reaching the highest individual national ranking in the program's history at 104th earlier in the season.

Echtler was the first player in the program's history to compete in the NCAA Division I Men's Tennis Singles Championships. Echtler begins fall play Sept. 22-24 at the Virginia Fall Invitational. He will also compete in the ITA All-American Championships in October in Tulsa, Okla.