Bulldog Netters Baron, Ruiz Named to Verizon National Academic Squad
May 25, 2016 | Men's Tennis, Athletic Academics
The team is comprised of 45 student-athletes nationwide representing five different sports. MSU was one of only two schools in the country to place two players from the same sport on the national squad.
Baron, who just completed his outstanding career with the Bulldog netters, was selected to the nation's 15-man first team after being a second-team selection last year. A native of Nantes, France, he holds a 3.91 grade point average in international business. He was also named this year's Rafael Osuna Sportmanship Award winner on the national level, annually presented to the collegiate player who displays sportsmanship, character, excellent academics, and has also had outstanding tennis playing accomplishments.
A three-time, all-American, Baron came in as the nation's top-ranked singles player to end the 2001 season, making him the sixth Bulldog ever to hold a No. 1 national ranking. The 2001 Southeastern Conference Player of the Year, he compiled 82-28 singles and 66-30 doubles overall records as a Bulldog, garnering all-America and first-team, all-SEC honors three years each. He went 23-5 overall in singles this year, including triumphs in 21 of his last 23 matches, and 20-9 in doubles, where he ended 14th in the country with Chris McDonald.
Ruiz, a junior from Colmar, France, earns his first appointment to the national academic team as a member of the country's third team. A 4.00 student in banking & finance, he is also a two-time Academic all-SEC honoree. He had the best year of his career this season with a 20-10 overall record in singles. He notched the second-most dual match victories on the MSU team, behind only Baron, while helping MSU reach the NCAA round of 16 for the 10th time in 11 seasons.
"We are extremely proud of Marco and David for this accomplishment," MSU head coach Andy Jackson said. "It is very impressive to make this team because it is based on both your athletic and academic achievements for the year, and you have to be very solid in both categories to even be considered for the national team.
"Marco and David have consistently had excellent grades during their careers but, without a doubt, they both had their best seasons on the court this year."
