@MizzouTennis Enters Oracle/ITA Collegiate Tennis Rankings at No. 57
3/1/2016 2:30:00 PM | Tennis
Mizzou enters rankings for first time since 2014, have posted most wins in a season since 2005
SKILLMAN, N.J. – Mizzou Tennis (12-1) entered the national rankings for the first time in two years, coming in at No. 57 of the Oracle/ITA Collegiate Tennis Rankings, announced by the publication on Tuesday. The ranking is the first time the Tigers have been ranked in the nation's top-75 since Feb. 11, 2014, when Mizzou was ranked No. 74 and is the highest ranking since the Tigers were ranked No. 56 on April 16, 2013.
The Tigers will begin Southeastern Conference play with a record of 12-1, the highest win total in program history since 2005 when Mizzou won 15 matches. The Tigers began the season 7-0 for just the second in program history.
The Tigers have played incredibly well in doubles play this season, winning 23 of 30 doubles matches, taking the doubles point in 11 of 13 matches. Mizzou's No. 1 team of junior Bea Machado Santos (Lisbon, Portugal) and Kelli Hine (New Braunfels, Texas) rank No. 46 in the nation and own a record of 8-2 in doubles action. The team of sophomore Brianna Lashway (Bradenton, Fla.) and junior Cassidy Spearman (Laguna Nigel, Calif.) own a 5-1 record at the No. 2 position and have won their last four matches.
Four Tigers have reached double digit wins in dual competition, led by Hine, who has posted a 12-1 record this season. Hine recorded her 100th career win on Feb. 19 in a 6-1, 6-0 win over Mercer's Xandra Fougner. Santos, Brianna Lashway, and junior Brittany Lashway (Bradenton, Fla.) all have 10 wins in singles play for the Tigers. Santos' mark of 10-2 includes a 9-2 mark at the No. 1 position.
Mizzou will take the road to start SEC play this week, facing No. 12-ranked South Carolina on Thursday at 4 p.m. CT and No. 15-ranked Florida on Saturday at 9 a.m. CT.
For all the latest on Mizzou Tennis, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Facebook (MizzouTennis), Twitter (@MizzouTennis) and Instagram (@Mizzou_Tennis).
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