Spartan Tennis Enters National Rankings
Tampa is 9-5 on season with several notable victories.
TEMPE, Ariz. - The University of Tampa tennis team is ranked No. 35 in the nation as the Intercollegiate Tennis Association and Oracle unveiled the latest Oracle/ITA Collegiate Tennis Division II National Rankings on Wednesday. The computerized rankings publish the top 50 men's and women's teams. Prior to the shift to computerized rankings, a national rankings panel voted on the Top 25 teams.
Tampa is currently 9-5 on the season as the Spartans are currently riding a four-match winning streak. Among the notable victories in 2018, UT defeated then-No. 19 Tarleton State by a 5-4 score and Division I opponent Oakland University (Mich.) by a score of 7-2. The Spartans return to action on Friday at home as they host Broward College at 3 p.m.
This marks the eighth season in the national rankings for head coach Al DuFaux's squad, who was last ranked No. 45 to end the 2015 season. UT has been ranked as high as No. 14, which happened in the 2013 season.
Sporting an 11-1 record on the season, Hawai'i Pacific sits atop the national rankings as the Sharks are riding a four-match win streak. The women's top-10 consists of West Florida at No. 2, Barry at No. 3, Lynn at No. 4, UC San Diego at No. 5, Central Oklahoma at No. 6, Azusa Pacific at No. 7, St. Mary's (TX) at No. 8, Academy of Art at No. 9 and Saint Leo at No. 10.
The Sunshine State Conference is well represented, boasting nine teams in the national poll. Barry (3), Lynn (4), Saint Leo (10), Florida Southern (14), Rollins (19), Nova Southeastern (24), Florida Tech (28), Tampa (35) and Palm Beach Atlantic (48) are among league schools in the newest rankings.
National singles and doubles rankings were also updated for men and women. Sonja Larsen of Barry is the No. 1-ranked women's singles player, while in doubles, the Indianapolis duo of Hanna Volikova and Alina Kislitskaya hold down the No. 1 ranking. In men's singles, Thomas Grinberg of Saint Leo is No. 1, and in doubles, Oliver Frank and Christian Schmid of Azusa Pacific are the No. 1-ranked team.
National rankings will be released every Wednesday for the remainder of the 2018 season.
Click here for complete top-50 poll | Singles Rankings | Doubles Rankings
About the Oracle/ITA Collegiate Tennis Rankings
As the governing body of college tennis, the ITA administers the Oracle/ITA Collegiate Tennis Rankings that are designed to track the top men's and women's teams, along with singles and doubles players in NCAA Divisions I, II, III, NAIA, Junior Colleges and California Junior Colleges. For full rankings information, please visit http://www.itatennis.com/ResultsAndRankings/Rankings.htm.