Patriot Tennis Teams in Fall Top 10 polls
Both the Francis Marion University men's and women's tennis teams are ranked in the Top 10 of the fall 2008 Intercollegiate Tennis Association NCAA Division II Top 40 national polls released recently. The FMU men are ranked fifth, their highest ranking ever, and the women are ranked eighth.
Several Patriot players are also included in the singles and doubles rankings.
FMU head coach Garth Thompson welcomes back six lettermen on the men's side. The Patriots posted a 19-6 record last spring, advanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight in Houston, Texas, and ended the season ranked seventh nationally. The 19 victories equaled the team's single-season record.
The Patriot women return four players from last year's program-best 23-3 squad that ended the year ranked fifth and also advanced to the Division II Elite Eight. FMU's only three losses were to the national champion (twice) and to the national runner-up (once).
Individually, sophomore Oshada Wijemanne (19-4 singles record in 2008) is ranked seventh among NCAA Division II men's singles players.
On the women's side, Patriot junior Tereza Sykorova (21-2) is ranked ninth nationally among Division II singles players. The doubles team of Sykorova and junior Valeska Ibscher is ranked eighth.
Thomson, entering his 17th season as head coach of both the Patriot programs, has amassed a 236-112 men's record with 12 trips to the NCAA Tournament and a 197-144 women's mark with eight NCAA national tournament appearances.
In the Southeast Region fall rankings, the Patriot men and women are ranked second and third respectively.
Both squads will open their 2009 season on Feb. 1 at Coker College.
ITA Fall 2008 NCAA II Men's Top 40 Poll (Oct. 31, 2008) 1. Armstrong Atlantic 2 Barry 3. Valdosta 4. Lynn 5. Francis Marion 6. Cameron 7. Hawaii Pacific 8. Concordia 9. West Florida 10. Rollins 11. Drury 12. Lander 13. Georgia College & State 14. Ouachita Baptist 15. Anderson 16. Columbus State 17. Florida Southern 18. U.C. San Diego 19. Abilene Christian 20. Northwood 21. Augusta State 22. Southwest Baptist 23. South Carolina Aiken 24. St. Edwards 25. North Alabama 26. Northwest Missouri 27. BYU Hawaii 28. Midwestern 29. Hawaii Hilo 30. Sonoma State 31. Limestone 32. Mount Olive 33. East Central 34. Washburn 35. Incarnate Word 36. Queens University Charlotte 37. Tusculum 38. West Virginia Wesleyan 39. Lees McRae 40. Mars Hill 41. Rockhurst 42. Mesa State 43. Queens 44. Kutztown
ITA Fall 2008 NCAA II Women's Top 40 Poll (Oct. 31, 2008) 1. Armstrong Atlantic 2. BYU-Hawaii 3. Valdosta State 4. Lynn 5. Columbus State 6. West Florida 7. Abilene Christian 8. Francis Marion 9. California of PA 10. Clayton State 11. Nova Southeastern 12. Hawaii-Pacific 13. Northwood, MI 14. Tarleton State 15. Rollins 16. Grand Valley State 17. Florida Southern 18. Northeastern State 19. Georgia College 20. Drury 21. Barry 22. Cal State Univ. Stanislaus 23. UH-Hilo 24. St. Edwards 25. Augusta State 26. UC San Diego 27. Slippery Rock 28. East Central, OK 29. Erskine 30. Cameron 31. Tusculum 32. Cal Poly Pomona 33. Northern Kentucky 34. Central Oklahoma 35. Flagler College 36. Incarnate Word 37. Cal State LA 38. Charleston WV 39. Concordia College 40. Mesa State
