May 18, 2007

NEWARK, NJ - Dimitri Athans and Mike Sullivan, the top two men's tennis players at Gloucester County College, have signed National Letters of Intent to continue their college tennis and academic careers at New Jersey Institute of Technology, coach Phil Baboulis announced.

Both of the signees are sophomores at GCC.

Athans, who is Gloucester's number one singles player and half of its first doubles team, is a graduate of Kingsway Regional High School, where he earned all-Gloucester County honors as a senior. Sullivan is Gloucester's second singles player and half of its second doubles team. He graduated from Triton Regional High School as an all-conference player.

Athans was a junior college all-America in 2006, advancing to the semifinals of the National Junior College Athletic Association national tournament at first singles. He went to the nationals as the NJCAA Region XIX first singles champion. His singles record in 2006 was 17-1 as Gloucester ranked fourth in the nation in NJCAA Division III.

This spring, Athans lost the regional first singles title in three sets and was the regional first doubles runner-up with partner Brian Crispin.

Sullivan was 16-4 playing second singles for Gloucester in 2006. In 2007, he was NJCAA Region XIX runner-up at second singles, while teaming with Kyle Stay to win the regional second doubles crown, 6-2, 6-3.

"Dimitri and Mike were instrumental in GCC's appearance at the junior college nationals," said NJIT coach Phil Baboulis, who piloted the Highlanders men's tennis team to a 10-10 record in its first season competing at the NCAA Division I level. "The national-level experience will help them make an immediate impact on our program.

"Dimitri's finesse style of play contrasted with Mike's power game will bring needed diversity to our team practice sessions. Most importantly Dimitri and Mike consistently bring a high level of energy and desire onto the court."