Four Players Ranked in ITA Preseason Rankings

Sept. 10, 2004

The Intercollegiate Tennis Association has announced its 2004 Preseason Division I rankings today. University of Miami women’s tennis seniors Megan Bradley and Staci Stevens along with sophomore Audrey Banada and junior Melissa Applebaum were among those to receive a ranking in the national poll.

Bradley is ranked second in the nation with 952 votes. She guided the 2003 team to a Big East Championship title. Bradley became the first Miami player to advance to the NCAA Semifinals since the 1988 season. She finished the season with a 37-6 record at the No. 1 position and became the all-time singles win leader in Miami. Bradley was named Most Outstanding Performer in the 2003 Big East Tournament and became the first All-American since 1995.

Stevens is ranked No. 91 in the preseason rankings. Last season, she compiled 22-10 record.

Banada is ranked No. 119 after an impressive rookie campaign that saw her post a 20-1 dual match record. She also earned a 28-4 overall record in doubles play.

Applebaum starts the fall season ranked No. 121 after finishing last season with a 16-10 record and 22-6 in doubles. She was named to the 2003 Big East All-Tournament team in both singles and doubles.

The duo of Bradley and Banada were also ranked, earning the No. 28 spot in the doubles ranking.

“This shows that these coaches have respect for our program,” said head coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews of the preseason rankings. “This also proves that our team is extremely deep, which is something that we need in order to be successful in college tennis.”

The women’s tennis squad opens the fall season on September 17th when they travel upstate for the Gator Fall Classic hosted by the University of Florida.