Kansas Tennis Reaches New Program-High ITA Ranking

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The University of Kansas women’s tennis team achieved another all-time best ranking Tuesday, climbing to No. 33 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) poll.

“It’s great to keep moving up in the polls,” said first-year head coach Todd Chapman. “We have come a long a long way in a short amount of time and at this point we know there is a lot of tennis left in the season.”

Kansas (8-2, 0-0 Big 12) jumped from last week’s No. 45 ranking, which at the time represented a program best. Before that, Kansas’ highest peg in the ITA’s weekly poll was No. 52 on June 2, 2001. Prior to 2000, the ITA only released end-of-season rankings. Over the past 14 years, week-by-week rankings became available. The highest end-of-season ranking for KU came in 1994 when the Jayhawks completed their season at No. 7.

“Our goal is not to put too much stock in the polls,” said Chapman. “Because the end-of-the-year ranking is the most important one, our focus is to continue working hard and try to improve daily going forward.”

Kansas broke into the ITA chart at No. 70 on Feb. 11, and in the midst of an eight-match win streak, the Jayhawks rose to No. 60, the highest for the program in seven years. Kansas then rose to No. 45 following a loss to current 22nd-ranked Kentucky. Last weekend Kansas fell at home to the No. 32 Wichita State Shockers. The Jayhawks have defeated three teams that have been ranked this season, including current No. 21 Houston on Feb. 14, then- No. 36 Nebraska on Jan. 31 and current No. 60 Colorado on Feb. 7.

Next the Jayhawks travel south to Tulsa, Okla., to meet the 21st-ranked Golden Hurricane at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center this Saturday at noon.

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