Women's Tennis No. 25 in Preseason ITA Rankings
1/7/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Jan. 7, 2010
SKILLMAN, N.J. - Following one of its best seasons in program history, the women's tennis team enters 2010 at No. 25 on the Campbell/Intercollegiate Tennis Association Preseason Rankings, which was announced by the ITA this week.
Alabama is one of eight Southeastern Conference institutions in the top 25 joined by No. 4 Georgia, No. 8 Florida, No. 11 Tennessee, No. 17 South Carolina, No. 19 Arkansas, No. 21 Mississippi and No. 22 Vanderbilt. The eight SEC squads in the top 25 are the most by any conference in the nation.
In addition to its team ranking, Alabama also placed freshman Alexa Guarachi on the preseason singles list in the No. 82 spot.
A host of Crimson Tide players also earned regional recognition in the Southern rankings with three singles and two doubles nods. Guarachi enters 2010 as the No. 3 singles player in the region followed by sophomore Courtney McLane at No. 5 and senior Paulina Bigos at No. 13. Guarachi and McLane, after having a successful fall season, are the No. 2 pairing in doubles, while Bigos and sophomore Taylor Lindsey rank seventh.
Alabama kicks off the season Saturday, Jan. 16 - Monday, Jan. 18 at the UCF Quad Tournament in Orlando, Fla. The four teams involved include Alabama, Florida State, Illinois and, host institution, UCF. The Tide's first home match of the season is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 23 with a doubleheader against UAB and Southern Miss at 9:00 a.m. (CST) and 3:00 p.m. (CST), respectively.
