University of Tennessee Athletics
Tennis Vols Garner No. 17 National Ranking
March 30, 2004 | Men's Tennis
March 30, 2004
Tennessee's men's tennis team continued its climb in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) national team rankings, jumping four spots to No. 17 in Tuesday's updated poll. The Volunteers (10-5, 3-3 SEC) had not been ranked in the top 20 since Feb. 5, 2003.
Tennessee's rise in the poll is due mostly in part to a 5-2 upset win over then-No. 9-ranked Florida last Sunday. With the loss, the Gators slipped to No. 13, marking the first time all season that they have not been ranked in the top 10.
Undefeated defending national champion Illinois held on to the top spot in the rankings. The Fighting Illini are followed in the top 10 by Baylor, Ole Miss, Southern Cal, UCLA, Duke, Rice, Virginia Commonwealth, Stanford and Georgia, respectively.
The Southeastern Conference placed eight teams in the top 25, and all 12 SEC squads are ranked in the top 60. No other conference can boast such a presence in the rankings.
Tennessee plays host to a pair of top-25 teams this weekend, as No. 20-ranked Vanderbilt, the 2003 NCAA runner-up, makes the trek East on Interstate Highway 40 for a 3 p.m. match on Friday, and No. 22-ranked Kentucky visits Rocky Top for a 1 p.m. dual match on Sunday.
