AMHERST, N.Y. - Daemen College men's tennis player Mark Veitengruber (Rockford, Mich./Rockford) has been named the East Coast Conference Rookie of the Week for matches played from Feb. 16-22.  The announcement was made late yesterday from the conference office as part of its weekly men's tennis report.

Veitengruber, a 6-foot freshman, won his singles match in straight sets in Daemen's lone match of the week, a 6-2 setback to Rochester Institute of Technology.  Veitengruber downed RIT's Kevin Layer, 6-1, 6-3 in the No. 1 singles slot.

The match was Daemen's first of the spring season as the team now sits at 4-2 overall after winning four of their five matches last fall.  For the season, the greenhorn Veitengruber is 5-1 in singles action during dual matches, including a perfect 3-0 in the No. 1 singles position.

Veitengruber's selection represents the first-ever weekly honor from the conference (Player of the Week or Rookie of the Week) for any men's tennis player at Daemen, which is in its second year of affiliation with the NCAA Division II league.

Veitengruber and the Wildcats return to non-conference action this Sunday, Mar. 1 when they travel east on I-90 to face Le Moyne College.  That match is slated for a 3:15 p.m. start time at Gold's Gym in Liverpool, N.Y.