Senior who looks to end his career on a high note in 2002...Earned a spot in the MSU lineup as a true freshman and has improved since his rookie campaign...Is highly motivated to help the Bulldogs as he enters the final season of his career...Has shown ability to be mentally tough, clinching five State matches during his freshman season, some in pressure-filled situations...A winner of 70 total matches during his career thus far...Has an excellent ability to create pace on the ball...Strength is his forehand, but is versed well in all technical aspects of the game, particularly from the baseline...Physical strength is also a big asset for him...Also a very intelligent player as an Academic all-American, two-time Academic all-SEC selection and MSU President's Scholar.
2001-02 (SENIOR):
FALL--Notched a 4-6 singles record during the fall, 3-4 in doubles...Reached the quarterfinals of Division I consolation at the Southern Collegiate Championships (Athens, GA)...Tallied two victories at the Bulldog Scramble (Athens, GA)...Teamed with Max Fomine for two wins in doubles there as well...Five of his six singles losses came in three sets.
2000-01 (JUNIOR):
Easily had the best year of his three-year career with his first 20-win campaign (20-10)...Was a third-team, Academic all-America selection, ITA Scholar-Athlete and Academic all-SEC for the second time.
FALL--Was just 4-3 in singles, 1-4 in doubles, in limited action.
SPRING--Registered a most impressive semester, stepping up his game to be one of MSU's most-consistent players...Notched a 15-6 dual match singles record for State, 7-4 in the Southeastern Conference... Both of those records were the second-best marks on the team in terms of victories, behind only three-time, all-American Marco Baron...Opened the team season with seven-straight singles triumphs, including a win over a top 50 player...Won seven of his last 10 singles matches and held leads in two other contests during that stretch when play was suspended.
1999-2000 (SOPHOMORE):
Struggled a bit with his game during his second season, posting 7-16 singles and 12-11 doubles records...Earned Academic all-SEC honors at the end of the year.
FALL--5-5 during the term in singles, 4-5 in doubles...2-1 in singles at the Charles Fluitt Collegiate Classic (Lexington, KY) to open the autumn schedule...Reached the consolation quarterfinals of the Thunderbirds Invitational (Tempe, AZ)...Had two solid wins at the Mississippi Invitational (Oxford, MS)...Three of his losses during the semester came in close matches against top 50 players...Teamed with newcomer Jerome Le Belicard to advance to the quarterfinals of the ITA Region III Indoor Championships (Athens, GA) to close the fall slate.
SPRING--Played in 13 of MSU's 20 dual matches in singles, 14 in doubles...Was just 2-11 in the singles contests, but was a solid 8-6 in doubles (all w/Jerome Le Belicard).
1998-99 (FRESHMAN):
Had an impressive first year on the collegiate level considering his youthfulness...Was the deciding factor in a handful of MSU matches.
FALL--Did not compete, as he joined the team at the beginning of the spring semester.
SPRING--11-12 in singles, 6-12 in doubles, all play coming in dual matches this spring...Played all of his contests in singles at the #4-6 positions...Was the decisive point in seven matches during the semester and was 5-2 in those contests...Four of those wins came in three-set comeback victories...Also had some big wins in doubles action during the semester, teaming with four different partners to go 6-12.
PRE-MSU:
Was one of the top 5 juniors in the French Federation of Tennis in 1998 after reaching the quarterfinals of the French national juniors championship.
PERSONAL:
David Ruiz was born May 24, 1980, in Montpellier, France...The son of Yves and Marie-Helene Ruiz...Lists Pete Sampras as his favorite professional...Enjoys watching movies, listening to music and playing street hockey for relaxation...A banking & finance major at Mississippi State, holding a perfect 4.00 grade point average in that discipline.
RUIZ'S CAREER SINGLES STATS
Season #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 Dual SEC Overall Pct.
Fall 2001 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 4-6 .400
2000-01 -- -- 7-1 4-4 3-1 1-0 15-6 7-4 20-10 .667
1999-2000 -- -- 2-6 0-4 -- 0-1 2-11 0-5 7-16 .304
1998-99 -- -- -- 3-4 5-4 3-4 11-12 5-7 11-12 .478
TOTALS -- -- 9-7 7-12 8-5 4-5 28-29 12-16 42-44 .488
RUIZ'S CAREER DOUBLES STATS
Season #1 #2 #3 Dual SEC Overall Pct.
Fall 2001 -- -- -- -- -- 3-4 .429
2000-01 2-2 2-2 0-1 4-5 0-3 7-9 .438
1999-2000 -- 4-4 4-2 8-6 4-4 12-11 .522
1998-99 2-4 4-7 0-1 6-12 3-5 6-12 .333
TOTALS 4-6 10-13 4-4 18-23 7-12 28-36 .438
