Stephenson, Bentley Earn Preseason National Rankings
9/8/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
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Crimson Tide seniors Robin Stephenson and Ashley Bentley garnered national recognition Tuesday in singles and doubles when the Intercollegiate Tennis Association released its preseason rankings.
Stephenson, ranked No. 4 in the poll, earned the highest ranking ever by an Alabama player while Bentley begins the season ranked No. 36. As a doubles team, the duo enters the fall ranked No. 21.
“This is a very exciting time for us,” Alabama head coach Jenny Mainz said. “Robin and Ashley have both done a tremendous job of leading this team and together they have goals of steering this program into the top 20 and beyond. I’m very proud of the way in which they have represented Alabama.”
Tuesday’s ranking marks the first time ever that an Alabama player has been ranked in the ITA’s top five. Stephenson now holds the six highest national rankings in Alabama history. Previously, Stephenson’s high ranking was sixth, set on two separate occasions during the 2005 season. Bentley’s previous high ranking, 49th, came in last season’s preseason ranking and she has now been ranked in every ITA ranking since March 23, 2004.
