FLORENCE, S.C. – Francis Marion University senior Kevin Taylor has been named to the 2006 Intercollegiate Tennis Association NCAA Division II All-America Team.
Taylor, who played No. 1 singles and teamed with David Budler at the No. 1 doubles spot, becomes the sixth Patriot men’s tennis player to earn All-America honors. He joins Mark Bube (2000, 2001, 2002), Sollie Nortje (2000, 2001), Laszlo Leiter (1999), Sam Lundkvist (1995, 1996, 1997), and Garth Thomson (1989, 1990).
Taylor, a native of Benoni, South Africa, recorded a 20-4 record in dual match play this spring at the No.1 singles position. He ended the year ranked sixth in NCAA Division II singles play. Taylor won the ITA Mid-Atlantic region singles title last fall and finished third at the ITA National Small College Championships.
Taylor and Budler were ranked 17th nationally in doubles with a 14-6 mark.
Taylor helped lead the Patriots to a program-best 19-3 record, a No. 15 national ranking, and the program’s 11th NCAA Division II national tournament appearance in the past 12 seasons.
Earlier this summer he was named both the Mid-Atlantic Region “Senior Player of the Year” and Peach Belt Conference "Player of the Year."
Several other Patriot netters were listed among the end-of-the-season Division II national individual rankings. Budler, a junior from Border, South Africa, was 37th in the men’s singles rankings with a 17-4 record.
Sophomore Jenny Ludwig (Cologne, Germany) and junior Kamini Murugaboopathy (Chennai, India) were ranked 35th and 44th respectively in the women’s singles rankings. Ludwig won 15 of her final 16 singles decisions to compile a 19-6 record at the No. 2 position, while Murugaboopathy played the No. 3 singles spot and finished the year with a 22-3 mark and a 14-match winning streak. They also teamed together for a 17-7 doubles record and a No. 23 national ranking.
