CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - The North Atlantic Conference gave out their All-Conference awards for men's tennis and in their inaugural season, the Lesley University men's tennis team received tremendous recognition.

Zach Rocha (New Bedford, Mass.) earned First Team All-Conference honors as Lesley's number one singles player.  Rocha proved to the most valuable player on the Lynx squad as in singles play, the junior finished with a record of 6-3, including 3-2 against other NAC number one singles competitors. 

After losing his first two conference matches to Thomas College and Wheelock College, Rocha reeled off six straight victories in impressive fashion as he would lose only one set during this stretch.

Rocha and doubles partner Fran Cusick (Lexington, Mass.) were also named to the NAC Doubles First Team All-Conference squad.  Rocha and Cusick compiled a record of 4-5 with a 2-5 mark against the NAC.  After losing their first three matches, these doubles partners would win four straight against their Mitchell College, Newbury College, Castleton State College, and Johnson State College opponents. 

The Lesley University men's tennis team as a whole as they were given the Team Sportsmanship Award, which is presented to the NAC team that exhibits professionalism throughout the entire season. 

The team finished their inaugural season with a record of 1-10 (0-5 NAC) and played in the NAC Championships hosted by Thomas College.  The team remained competitive and played spoiler for the host school Thomas, as a crucial doubles match with Scott Wheeler (East Hampton, Conn.) and Mike Labagh (Elizabethtown, Pa.) kept the Terriers from taking the conference championship.

The Lynx will now look forward to the 2009 season with a year of experience under their belt.  Lesley Athletics will be competing in the New England Collegiate Conference starting in the Fall of 2008 so the men's tennis team will be facing so new competition next season.

To learn more about the Lesley University men's tennis team, please visit their website.