Five Toms get All-MIAC honors in men's tennis

May 21, 2005
see complete All-MIAC team here

The third-place St. Thomas men's tennis team had five players honored on the 2005 All-MIAC team. The Toms finished 16-4 in dual matches and just missed an NCAA playoff berth. They lost two close matches to Carleton (6-3, 5-4) to miss second place in the conference.

Tut Fuller (SR-Dubuque, Iowa), Brian Thomas (SR-Winona), Tom Loper (SR-Eden Prairie) and Blair Madsen (SR-West St. Paul/Henry Sibley) were honored at 1-2-3-4 singles, respectively. Loper and Ben Herding (FR-Hastings) were honored at second doubles.

Fuller, a four-year starter with 50-plus career wins near the top of the lineup, made first-team Academic All-District in 2004 and 2005 and is on the ballot for Academic All-America consideration in 2005. He graduated with a 3.99 gpa in Biology and has been accepted into the University of Michigan medical school. Fuller also received two academic minors -- Business and Chemistry.

In 2005, he finished 15-5 at first singles player and 13-7 in doubles. As a junior in 2004 he finished 13-7 at No. 2 singles and 13-6 at No. 1 doubles. He was all-conference at first doublein 2004, and all-conference at second doubles in 2003. He was team MVP in 2004 and received UST's Most Determined Award in 2002 and 2005. He was team captain in 2004 and 2005.

Among his campus and community activities include Red Cross Blood Drive, Women's Shelter Fundraiser, campus student-athlete committee, UST Physics Student of the Year in 2002-03, UST Chemistry Student of the Year in 2001-02, hospital volunteer 2003-05, and President of campus Tri-Beta Biology club in 04-05.

Thomas went 17-5 in singles and 14-8 in doubles. Loper went 16-3 in singles and 14-5 in doubles. Madsen went 17-5 in singles and 10-8 in doubles. Herding went 15-5 in doubles and 14-5 in singles.