The GCTA Supports Tennis

April 4, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Ohio State Men’s Tennis Moves Up to No. 4 in ITA Rankings

Buckeyes reach highest national ranking in school history

COLUMBUS, Ohio -The Ohio State men's tennis team improved to No. 4 nationally in the latest FILA Intercollegiate Tennis Association Poll released Tuesday. The fourth-place ranking is the highest by the Buckeyes in school history. The previous high was No. 6, a spot Ohio State attained in the March 28 rankings this year.

OhioStateimproved to 16-1 this season after recording victories over Purdue (7-0) and then-No. 5 Illinois (5-2) last Saturday and Sunday, respectively. The win Sunday was the Buckeyes' first against the Illini since Ohio State beat Illinois in the 2001 Big Ten Tournament Title match. The Illini loss was their first regular-season conference loss since the 1997 season. The streak lasted 86-consecutive matches and included eight regular-season Big Ten titles. Illinois’ only loss to a conference opponent during that streak was to Ohio State in the 2001 Big Ten Tournament.

The Buckeyes have defeated seven teams ranked in the Top 50 this season, including No. 5 Illinois, No. 17 VCU, No. 19 LSU, No. 20 Kentucky, No. 24 Florida State, No. 33 Tennessee and No. 44 Oklahoma. The Buckeyes also own a victory vs. then-No. 56 Virginia Tech. The lone loss this season was a 5-2 setback Feb. 24 at then-No. 15 Notre Dame.

OhioStateis led by the No. 2-ranked doubles team in the nation. Seniors Ross Wilson (North Canton, Ohio/Hoover) and Scott Green (Toledo, Ohio/Toledo St. Francis de Sales) have a record of 21-2 on the year, with a 15-1 mark in dual matches.

The Buckeyes have three singles players ranked in the Top 85. Bryan Koniecko (Fr. Long Island, N.Y./Syosset) is No. 49 nationally, followed by Chris Klingemann (Jr. Bradenton, Fla./Texas Tech Independent) at No. 76 and Devin Mullings (Jr. Freeport, Bahamas/Ft. Lauderdale Preparatory) at No. 83. Klingemann has won five-consecutive matches at the No. 1 singles spot to give him a record of 17-5. Mullings has a record of 18-9 while Koniecko is 16-10 in his rookie season.  

OhioState travels to Indiana to take on the Hoosiers Friday, then heads to State College to take on the Nittany Lions of Penn State Sunday. Both matches are scheduled to begin at noon. The Buckeyes next home match is April 22 against Northwestern. All home matches are played at the Stickney Tennis Center.

FILA Intercollegiate Tennis Rankings (April 4)
Rank     School
1          Georgia 
2          Pepperdine 
3          Texas 
4       Ohio State 
5          Baylor 
6          Duke 
7          Illinois  
8          Virginia 
9          North Carolina 
10        Mississippi