Women's Tennis Ranked 12th By The ITA
Apr 20, 2004 | Women's Tennis
April 20, 2004
NEW ORLEANS, La. - - Just two days after winning its second straight Conference USA championship, the Tulane women's tennis team finds itself with its highest-ever ranking, checking in at No. 12 in the most recent Intercollegiate Tennis Association poll on Tuesday.
The Green Wave are up three spots from last week's No. 15 ranking, and sit one spot better than its previous best ranking of 13th which came two weeks ago. Tulane boasts a 24-1 overall record that includes a 15-1 mark against fellow ranked teams.
In addition to the team ranking, the Green Wave has five players ranked by the ITA in singles as well as four of the nation's top 60 doubles pairings. Leading the way is the singles listings is sophomore Julie Smekodub, who is ranked 61st. Fellow sophomore Erika Valdes is close behind, ranked 64th, while junior Maria Ivanov is ranked 83rd. Freshman Darya Ivanov, Maria's younger sister, is ranked 88th, with sophomore Jenny Kuhn is ranked 104th.
In doubles action, the Wave's top ranked duo is junior Nancy Kockott and freshman Dorottya Magas, who are listed 31st. Kuhn and Smekodub form the nation's 35th-ranked pairing, though each teams with one of the Ivanov sisters to earn another spot in the listings. Smekodub and Darya Ivanov are ranked 46th, while Kuhn and Maria Ivanov are ranked 56th.
Tulane is the only program in the nation to have four different doubles teams ranked. In all, seven different Wave players are ranked in either singles or doubles.
Tulane will close out the regular season on Friday, as the Green Wave travel to face in-state foe LSU in a match-up of Top 20 teams. The Wave will pit its No. 12 ranking against the 20th-ranked Tigers beginning at 5 p.m.
Players Mentioned
