University of Memphis Athletics
Pair of Tigers’ Men’s Tennis Players in First ITA Rankings
Jan 12, 2017 | Men's Tennis
Peniston and Watson in first spring rankings in singles.
MEMPHIS – The University of Memphis men's tennis team had a pair of juniors in the first rankings of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) for 2017. Ryan Peniston, who won the ITA Ohio Valley singles championship in the fall, and Andrew Watson are each in the first rankings of the spring.
Peniston is ranked number 35 in the country after going 9-4 in singles play during the fall. He became the second Tiger in history to win an ITA singles regional championship (a feat first accomplished by Watson in his freshman season) and represented Memphis at two national level events in the fall: the Oracle ITA Master's Challenge in Pepperdine, Calif., and the ITA National Indoor Championships in Flushing Meadows, N.Y. Peniston was 2-1 against ranked opponents in singles play during the fall, including wins over number 47 ranked David Biosca of East Tennessee State and number 82 Alex Night of Michigan. Peniston was an American Athletic Conference honoree in singles last season.
Watson will start his junior season at number 111 in the national singles rankings. Watson went 8-5 in the fall in singles play, starting his year with a win over a ranked opponent, number 34 ranked Mazen Osama of Alabama. He and Peniston then teamed together to pick up a ranked doubles win at the ITA All-American qualifier, upending number 52 ranked Lucas Gerch and Jurence Mendoza of Oklahoma State to advance to the Round of 16 in that draw. Watson was a first-team all-conference singles player in 2015 and was named the American's Freshman of the Year.
Teamwise, college tennis changed its rankings process. Instead of a top 75 listing as they've done in the past, a panel of coaches will now vote on a top 25 list until the team computer rankings kick in February after the ITA National Team Indoor Championships (at which point, the ITA will now list the top 50 teams).
Memphis begins its 2017 spring dual season next Friday, hosting Big 10 foe Michigan State at 7 p.m. on Jan. 20th at The Racquet Club of Memphis. The Big 10 matchup is the beginning of another tough slate of opponents for the Tigers. Of the week one top 25 rankings in college tennis, Memphis will face at least four (possibly five depending on the ITA Kickoff results) teams, all four in true road contests (at #13 Northwestern, at #14 Oklahoma State, at #22 Baylor, at #25 USF). Memphis will also face two teams that received votes in the week one ranking (SMU, Tulane).
Peniston is ranked number 35 in the country after going 9-4 in singles play during the fall. He became the second Tiger in history to win an ITA singles regional championship (a feat first accomplished by Watson in his freshman season) and represented Memphis at two national level events in the fall: the Oracle ITA Master's Challenge in Pepperdine, Calif., and the ITA National Indoor Championships in Flushing Meadows, N.Y. Peniston was 2-1 against ranked opponents in singles play during the fall, including wins over number 47 ranked David Biosca of East Tennessee State and number 82 Alex Night of Michigan. Peniston was an American Athletic Conference honoree in singles last season.
Watson will start his junior season at number 111 in the national singles rankings. Watson went 8-5 in the fall in singles play, starting his year with a win over a ranked opponent, number 34 ranked Mazen Osama of Alabama. He and Peniston then teamed together to pick up a ranked doubles win at the ITA All-American qualifier, upending number 52 ranked Lucas Gerch and Jurence Mendoza of Oklahoma State to advance to the Round of 16 in that draw. Watson was a first-team all-conference singles player in 2015 and was named the American's Freshman of the Year.
Teamwise, college tennis changed its rankings process. Instead of a top 75 listing as they've done in the past, a panel of coaches will now vote on a top 25 list until the team computer rankings kick in February after the ITA National Team Indoor Championships (at which point, the ITA will now list the top 50 teams).
Memphis begins its 2017 spring dual season next Friday, hosting Big 10 foe Michigan State at 7 p.m. on Jan. 20th at The Racquet Club of Memphis. The Big 10 matchup is the beginning of another tough slate of opponents for the Tigers. Of the week one top 25 rankings in college tennis, Memphis will face at least four (possibly five depending on the ITA Kickoff results) teams, all four in true road contests (at #13 Northwestern, at #14 Oklahoma State, at #22 Baylor, at #25 USF). Memphis will also face two teams that received votes in the week one ranking (SMU, Tulane).
Players Mentioned
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