RELATED LINKS: ITA Division II Men's Preseason Rankings
TEMPE, Ariz. – The University of West Alabama men's tennis team will start the 2024 season with a top-20 ranking in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Division II Preseason Rankings, sponsored by Tennis-Point.
Entering the new year ranked 19th in the nation, UWA is coming off a 12-10 record last season and a quarterfinal appearance in the GSC Championship last April.
"It is nice to see where the men's team is in the top-20 for national rankings, and the most important thing is where we finish," said head coach
Jeff Beaman.
"We brought some great players in and lost a lot of talent from last year. The players and coaches are excited to start competing this week if the weather cooperates."
The Tigers are the fifth-highest team from the GSC in the rankings, joining Auburn Montgomery (16), Lee (14), West Florida (5) and the ranking's favorite to win the national championship: Valdosta State (1).
Barry, who won the 2023 NCAA Division II National Championship over Columbus State, is ranked second.
Along with the four GSC opponents inside the top-25, West Alabama will face a total of 10 ranked opponents. Columbus State (6), Texas Tyler (9), Rollins (11), Cameron (17), Embry-Riddle (22) and Ouachita Baptist (25) are the opponents in non-conference play.
Additionally, UWA will face four that are receiving votes in the poll, Florida Southern, Midwestern State, Mississippi College and North Georgia.
Announced back in November, the doubles tandem of
Lucas Hammond and
Wilson Igbinovia is
ranked 20th in the Division II Doubles Rankings.
The Tigers will have a few January
exhibition matches, beginning with a trip to Mobile on Saturday against South Alabama, weather pending. UWA will also play Troy on Jan. 23 and Kennesaw State on Jan. 31 on the road.
The 2023 season officially starts with a trip to Montgomery to take on Alabama State on Feb. 7. UWA's home opener will happen on Sunday, March 10 against West Florida for a 10 a.m. start from the Vaughan Tennis Complex.
