Teams: Women's Tennis: Press Releases

Thursday, November 8, 2007

JUMBOS VAULT TO #9 NATIONAL RANKING IN ITA POLL

MEDFORD -- With a strong start to their 2007-08 season, the Tufts University women's tennis team vaulted to #9 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) National Team Rankings released on November 6.

The Jumbos have made a steady climb up the national rankings during the three-year tenure of Coach Kate Bayard. During her first season in 2005-06, Tufts was ranked #27 in the fall and moved up to #21 in the spring. Last year, the Jumbos picked up a spot to #20 in the fall and was #15 by the end of the spring. Now they are into the top 10.

Regionally, Tufts is ranked third behind Amherst and Williams in the Northeast. Two Tufts players are ranked among the top 10 in the Northeast after fall play. Senior Grace Cascarilla Berry (Bay Village, OH/Magnificat) is at #7, sophomore Meghan McCooey (Cumberland, RI/Mount St. Charles) is #10 and first-year Julia Browne (Old Brookville, NY/Friends Academy) is #25.

First-years Miranda Young (Newport Beach, CA/Corona del Mar) and Browne are the fifth-ranked doubles pair in the region.

Through three dual matches and two tournaments in the fall, McCooey and Browne lead Tufts with seven singles wins each. Both played into the final at the New England Women's Intercollegiate Tennis Tournaemnt (NEWITT). McCooey and first-year Hayley Young (Newport Beach, CA/Corona del Mar) have six wins in doubles play, including five to win the NEWITT title in #2 doubles. Browne and Miranda Young have earned five doubles victories.

Tufts will continue its season in the spring.

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