Bierich Named All-Big Ten

April 23, 2009

IOWA CITY, IA – – Senior Christian Bierich, of the University of Iowa men’s tennis team, has been selected first team all-Big Ten. It marks the second-straight season a Hawkeye has been honored. Bart van Monsjou was named to the team in 2008.

Bierich, who hails from Landvetter, Sweden, finished 11-9 in singles competition at the No. 1 position. He finished 5-5 in Big Ten play and was ranked high as 119th nationally in singles play during the season. Bierich finished 10-11 in doubles play competing with sophomore Nikita Zotov and junior Reinoud Haal. Bierich and Zotov were ranked as high as 31st nationally and Bierich and Haal were ranked as high as 78th. This is the first time Bierich has been named all-Big Ten.

During the fall season, Bierich compiled a team-best record of 14-2 in singles competition. In addition, he won six-straight matches, losing only one set, to claim the Big Ten Singles Championship. He was the first Hawkeye to win the event since Tyler Cleveland in 2000.

Additionally, he represents the Hawkeyes as the team’s 2009 Sportsmanship Award honoree. Each school has one student-athlete chosen who has distinguished himself through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. In addition, the student-athletes must be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting. Each student-athlete selected is now a candidate for the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.

2009 All-Big Ten Team:
Roy Kalmanovich, ILL
Dennis Nevolo, ILL
Marc Spicijaric, ILL
Lachlan Ferguson, IND
Christian Bierich, IOWA
Ishay Hadash, MINN*
Tobias Wernet, MINN
Steven Moneke, OSU*
Bryan Koniecko, OSU*
Justin Kronauge, OSU*
Moritz Baumann, WIS*
Marek Michalicka, WIS

*unanimous selection