Armstrong Atlantic, BYU-Hawaii claim top spots in Division II Campbell/ITA College Tennis Rankings
Top spots: Armstrong Atlantic State reclaimed the top spot in the Division II men’s team rankings while undefeated BYU-Hawaii moved up one spot to No. 1 on the women’s side. Armstrong Atlantic (15-1) entered the 2009 spring season with the No. 1 ranking until Georgia College and State recorded an upset victory over the Pirates, ending their 38-match win streak and handing AASU its first regular season Peach Belt Conference loss since 2005. Since that loss, Armstrong has posted six wins against ranked teams including three wins versus the previously top three ranked teams. BYU-Hawaii (20-0) continues to roll over its competition as the Seasiders have outscored their opponents 162-6 this season, including victories over fifth-ranked West Florida and seventh-ranked Abilene Christian. Both top-ranked teams have two matches left in regular season play.
Rounding out the Top 10: Following Armstrong Atlantic in this week’s men’s top 10 is (in order): Lynn, Barry, Valdosta State, Hawaii Pacific, Georgia State and College, Ouachita Baptist, Columbus State, South Carolina-Aiken and West Florida. On the women's side, BYU-Hawaii is followed by (in order): Lynn, Armstrong Atlantic, Valdosta State, West Florida, Columbus State, Abilene Christian, Francis Marion, Rollins and UC San Diego.
Conference Count: Men's Top 25: Peach Belt – 7; Sunshine State – 4; Gulf South – 3; Conference Carolinas, Lone Star and MAIAA – 2; GLIAC, GLVC, Heartland, NYCAC and Pacific West – 1. Four different conferences placed at least one team in the top 10, including three from the Gulf South and four from the Peach Belt. Women's Top 25: Peach Belt and Sunshine State – 6; Gulf South – 4; Lone Star – 3; Pacific West – 2; CCAA, GLIAC, Heartland and PSAC – 1. Six different conferences placed at least one team in the top 10, including three from the Peach Belt.
Twice as Nice: Fifteen Division II schools have both their men’s and women’s programs ranked inside this week’s top 25.
|
TEAM |
MEN |
WOMEN |
|
Abilene Christian |
19 |
7 |
|
Armstrong Atlantic State |
1 |
3 |
|
Augusta State |
24 |
19 |
|
Barry |
3 |
13 |
|
Columbus State |
8 |
6 |
|
Francis Marion |
17 |
8 |
|
Florida Southern |
14 |
18 |
|
Georgia College & State |
6 |
22 |
|
Hawaii Pacific |
5 |
15 |
|
Lynn |
2 |
2 |
|
Northwood (MI) |
12 |
17 |
|
Rollins |
15 |
9 |
|
St. Edwards |
23 |
21 |
|
Valdosta State |
4 |
4 |
|
West Florida |
10 |
5 |
Singling Out No. 1: After beginning the year ranked No. 1 in the pre-season, Armstrong Atlantic’s Sona Novakova continues to hold the top spot of the women’s singles rankings. The freshman has compiled a record of 31-2 and is also ranked seventh in doubles trailing the No. 1 duo of Elwen Li and Yuan Jia from BYU-Hawaii. Concordia’s Alex Grubin has swapped spots with pre-season No. 1 Eudaldo Bonet of Armstrong Atlantic after Grubin was victorious in the head-to-head matchup on March 4. The 2007 National Small College Division II Singles Champion has posted a 10-1 record in singles with the only loss coming at the hands of Bonet in the final of the 2008 National Small College Championships back in October.
Mark Your Calendar: This year's NCAA Division II Championship begins May 7-8 or 8-9 for both men and women with first and second round play at campus sites. The final 16 men’s and women’s teams face off May 13-19 at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs, Florida, hosted by Rollins College and the Central Florida Sports Commission.
Next Campbell/ITA College Tennis Rankings: The next Division II national rankings will be released on Tuesday, April 5. It is important and factually accurate to include “Campbell” in the title so please remember when referring to the ITA Rankings to cite as Campbell/ITA College Tennis Rankings.
|
|
Division II Men’s Top 25 | |||
|
Campbell/ITA College Tennis Rankings |
|
Campbell/ITA College Tennis Rankings | ||
|
Rank, school |
LW (3/7) |
|
LW (3/7) | |
|
1. BYU-Hawaii |
2 |
|
1. Armstrong Atlantic |
5 |
|
2. Lynn |
4 |
|
2. Lynn |
3 |
|
3. Armstrong Atlantic |
1 |
|
3. Barry |
1 |
|
4. Valdosta State |
3 |
|
4. Valdosta State |
2 |
|
5. West Florida |
6 |
|
5. Hawaii Pacific |
6 |
|
6. Columbus State |
5 |
|
6. Georgia College & State |
4 |
|
7. Abilene Christian |
7 |
|
7. Ouachita Baptist |
7 |
|
8. Francis Marion |
9 |
|
8. Columbus State |
18 |
|
9. Rollins |
14 |
|
9. South Carolina-Aiken |
10 |
|
10. UC San Diego |
33 |
|
10. West Florida |
9 |
|
11. Clayton State |
10 |
|
11. Cameron |
12 |
|
12. California of PA |
8 |
|
12. Northwood (MI) |
13 |
|
13. Barry |
16 |
|
13. Concordia |
15 |
|
14. Northeastern State |
15 |
|
14. Florida Southern |
19 |
|
15. Hawaii Pacific |
11 |
|
15. Rollins |
14 |
|
16. Tarleton State |
13 |
|
16. Drury |
8 |
|
17. Northwood (MI) |
12 |
|
17. Francis Marion |
11 |
|
18. Florida Southern |
17 |
|
18. Lander |
16 |
|
19. Augusta State |
22 |
|
19. Abilene Christian |
20 |
|
20. Nova Southeastern |
21 |
|
20. Lees McRae |
39 |
|
21. St. Edwards |
20 |
|
21. Southwest Baptist |
22 |
|
22. Georgia College & State |
18 |
|
22. Anderson |
17 |
|
23. FIT |
36 |
|
23. St. Edwards |
23 |
|
24. Flagler |
29 |
|
24. Augusta State |
21 |
|
25. Delta State |
NR |
|
25. Northwest Missouri |
28 |
Campbell/ITA College Tennis rankings can be found at www.itatennis.com.
