Four Ranked Among Nation's Best
SKILLMAN, N.J. – With the start of the fall tennis season just three days away, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) has announced the 2013 ITA Division I Women’s Preseason Rankings.
Four Hurricanes received singles rankings in the top 100, with Stephanie Wager leading the way at No. 52. Wagner is coming off an exceptional freshman year where she finished 21-8 in singles play and was named the ITA Southeast Region Rookie of the Year.
Sophomore Kelsey Laurente is ranked just two spots behind Wagner at No. 54. Laurente finished with a spring record of 13-10 including a win over then 44th ranked Zoe De Bruyecker in the semifinals of the ACC Championship.
Rising sophomore Clementina Riobueno checked in at No. 69 and junior Lina Lileikite rounded out the group at No. 84. Riobueno completed the spring with a 24-5 record in singles and was named ACC Player of the Week on Jan. 29. Lileikite, who jumped up 21 spots since the final spring rankings, was named the ACC Championship’s Most Valuable Performer.
Two pairs of Miami doubles players were also ranked. Doubles team Monique Albuquerque and Clementina Riobueno check in at No. 27, and Stephanie Wagner and Kelsey Laurente are ranked No. 52.
“I’m always excited to see where we land in the beginning of the season rankings,” head coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews said. “I think we are well represented in both singles and doubles, but this is only a starting point. We are looking to improve from here and bring in some All-Americans this year.
The women’s tennis team hits the road this weekend for the Duke Fab Four Tournament in Durham, N.C. Participating in the first tournament of the fall will be Wagner, Riobueno, Albuquerque, and Laurente. For doubles, Wagner and Laurente will team together a duo consisting of Riobueno and Albuquerque will also be featured.
