TENNIS RANKED NINTH IN INITIAL NCAA D-II SOUTH REGION POLL

        RUSSELLVILLE, Arkansas – Arkansas Tech Golden Suns Tennis continued its drive to earning a spot in the NCAA Division II Tournament in May by being ranked ninth in the initial NCAA D-II South Region poll that was released on Wednesday. Tech hasn’t advanced to the NCAA D-II Tournament since 2002, when it finished with a 14-11 overall record.

Tech, who is 7-5 on the season and 3-4 in the South Region, was one of nine Gulf South Conference teams ranked in the initial South Region poll, including three West Division teams.

“This is a tremendous accomplishment for this team and I’m proud of them,” Golden Suns Head Coach Abby Davis said. “We still have some important matches left to play on the schedule this season, so we need to remain focused.”

In addition to Tech, Valdosta State (8-4 overall, 3-0 South Region) headlines the first South Region poll and is followed by West Florida (11-7 overall, 4-0 South Region) at No. 2 and Delta State (4-1 overall, 4-0 South Region) is ranked third. Other GSC teams ranked are North Alabama (6-4 overall, 2-1 South Region) at No. 4, Harding (15-2 overall, 9-0 South Region) at No. 5, West Alabama (10-4 overall, 5-2 South Region) at No. 6, Alabama-Huntsville (4-9 overall, 2-6 South Region) at No. 7 and Montevallo (4-12 overall, 4-8 South Region) at No. 10.

Tuskegee is the only non-GSC school ranked in the first NCAA D-II South Region poll as the Tigerettes are ranked eighth as they are 19-1 overall on the season and are 14-0 in the South Region.

The Golden Suns will return to action this weekend when its travels to Magnolia, Ark., for three matches in two days. Tech will open the weekend with a 5 p.m. match on Friday against Southeastern Oklahoma, who is ranked 10th in the NCAA D-II Central Region poll, before facing Southern Arkansas and Henderson State on Saturday.

-- Tech Athletics --