SFA Freshmen Land in National Rankings
1/4/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Jan. 4, 2012
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin women's tennis team's highly touted recruiting class is already living up to the hype. Two SFA freshmen have been ranked in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's (ITA) 2012 spring preseason national rankings, while a third has received a regional ranking.
"It's great that some of the freshmen have been recognized for their solid fall play in the first rankings," said head coach Patrick Sullivan. "They have worked hard and are very deserving, but they will be the first to tell you that the ranking we really care about is the season-ending team rankings in June. I'm always telling them that the best way to be a leader is to make sure you pull more than just your share, and these girls are certainly doing that so far."
Freshmen Malena Gordo enters the 2012 spring campaign ranked No. 101 in the country, while classmate Julia Lorca is ranked No. 125. Tereza Bekerova garnered a No. 17 ranking in the Texas regional singles rankings. Bekerova, along with Gordo, have been ranked as the region's No. 9 doubles tandem, which marks the first time an SFA doubles team has received a ranking.
A total of four 'Jacks have landed in the rankings during the 2011-12 season, including senior Alina Shazhko who received a national singles' ranking during the fall. The four SFA players are the only Southland Conference players to earn regional or national rankings this season. Among the 350 NCAA Division I programs, SFA is one of only 34 schools to have multiple players listed in the singles rankings.
The freshman class was ranked among the nation's top-25 recruiting classes, and was considered the top mid-major recruiting haul in the country. SFA will open the 2012 spring season Thursday, Jan. 12, in Boca Raton, Fla., against Florida Atlantic.
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