Spartan Tennis Continues Climb in National Poll at No. 14

SKILLMAN, N.J. - The University of Tampa tennis team added another notch on its belt as they climbed another spot in the national rankings. Ranked at No. 15 in last month's International Tennis Association (ITA) rankings, the Spartans moved up to No. 14 on the ladder in Wednesday's release.

On the 22nd of March when the ITA released the latest regional poll, the Spartans saw five of its starting eight players ranked. Thashia Garcia came in at No. 12 for singles, number one doubles Lauren Hewett and Meg Wladimirski placed at No. 5, while young Spartans duo Lindsay Nochowicz and Kelsey Matthews topped it off at No. 10.

Tampa ace Garcia has received a personal best in her collegiate career, coming in at No. 40 in Wednesday's national rankings. Previously to start the season, Garcia was ranked at No.50, which at the time was a personal best for her. With hopes to finish off a strong season and three conference matches to play next week, Garcia looks to continue her climb in the rankings as she plays Sabine Goge of Florida Southern, and Linda Fritschken of Barry. Both players are respectively ranked at No. 30 and No. 33 in the latest national poll.

The Spartans top doubles team Hewett and Wladimirski made a push into the top-25 for the first time in their career playing together. Coming in at No. 25 in Wednesday's poll, the Spartans duo has improved their ranks in all three polls released this year. Starting the season unranked nationally, Hewett and Wladimirski began the season regionally ranked at No. 10. After last week's regional release, they moved up to the No. 5 spot while now sitting at No. 25 nationally.

Next week the duo will strive to continue their climb on the rankings, as they look to face Barry and Florida Southern. Both doubles teams are respectively ranked at No. 11 and No.12 in the latest national poll.

The team returns to action Friday versus No. 47 ranked West Virginia State. The match is slated to begin at 3 p.m. beginning with the standard three doubles matches, followed by six singles matches.

Fans may follow University of Tampa athletics on Twitter (www.twitter.com/utspartans), Facebook (www.facebook.com/tampaspartans), YouTube (youtube.com/utathletics) and Instragram (tampaspartans). UT also offers blAst, a free text messaging service that sends text alerts following all Spartan events. To sign up, please register at www.tampaspartans.com.