RELATED LINKS: ITA Release
TEMPE, Ariz. – The University of West Alabama women's tennis team are ranked eighth in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association national rankings, announced on Wednesday, March 20.
Now 8-5 on the year, UWA picked up a 7-0 over Delta State last Wednesday, March 13 and are coming off a 6-1 victory over Central Oklahoma in Raymond, Mississippi.
The Tigers are preparing for a spring break trip to Orlando, where they will play three matches against teams in the ITA top 50. It all starts on Sunday with the Tigers take on the Eagles of Embry-Riddle (Fla.) in Valdosta, Georgia, who is ranked 18th in the latest poll.
On Tuesday, UWA will face No. 2 Nova Southeastern for a neutral site in Sanlando Springs, Florida outside of Almonte Springs.
The trip ends Friday with a Gulf South Conference match with Valdosta State, who cracked the top 50 in the poll this past week at No. 44. The teams will play a neutral site contest in Pensacola, Florida next Friday, March 29.
Khim Iglupas remains at seventh in the singles rankings heading into the weekend. Winning her last five matches at the top flight, she is currently 9-1 on the year.
In doubles,
Shaira Rivera and
Hardija Vidnere move up 10 spots to 12th in the Division II rankings. The team is 8-1 on the season at the top flight.
Also ranked are Iglupas and
Heden Ly, who drop to No. 45 in the rankings despite winning their last seven contests. The duo is 8-1 on the season and 6-1 at the No. 2 position.
While the men's team is currently unranked, their schedule will be as challenging as the women's over spring break. The Tigers are in the middle of a five-match stretch of ranked opponents after UWA defeated No. 38 Southeastern Oklahoma State, 6-1, on Tuesday.
Currently 4-5 on the season, the team's spring break trip will consist of four top 20 matches and three straight top 10 foes. Following UWA's match with No. 16 Embry-Riddle on Sunday, the Tigers will face No. 8 Florida Southern, who jumped 30 spots from last week after defeating No. 1 Indianapolis, on Tuesday.
The following day, West Alabama will face No. 4 Rollins in Winter Haven, Florida.
The trip will conclude with No. 5 Valdosta State on Friday, March 29, from Pensacola, Florida.
