University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Debut in Rankings at No. 37
2/23/2022 1:30:00 PM | Tennis
Minnesota reaches highest team ranking in ITA poll since 2012
The University of Minnesota women's tennis has entered the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) team rankings for the first time this season. The Golden Gophers debuted at the No. 37 spot, which marks their highest ranking in nearly a decade and best during head coach Catrina Thompson's tenure.
Minnesota was last ranked in March of 2020, where the program was ranked No. 41 before the season was canceled due to COVID-19. An excellent non-conference record has seen the Gophers surpass that figure by four spots. Minnesota posted 10 consecutive wins to start their season, which set a program record and spurred them to their 11-2 standing.
The Gophers have three wins over currently ranked teams, No. 65 Washington State, No. 70 Memphis, and No. 74 Florida Gulf Coast. Each of their two losses have come against top 35 ranked teams, Alabama at No. 26 and Utah at No. 33. Their upcoming conference schedule features additional ranked contests.
The B1G Ten currently has 10 programs ranked in the ITA's poll of 75 five teams, five of which are in the top 40. Ohio State has the highest ranking at No. 4, followed by No. 16 Michigan, No. 27 Northwestern, No. 37 Minnesota, and No. 40 Illinois. Also ranked are No. 50 Wisconsin, No. 59 Nebraska, No. 60 Michigan State, No. 61 Penn State, and Iowa at No. 71.
Minnesota opens their B1G Ten account on March 5, with a trip to Lincoln, Neb. The Cornhuskers are ranked at No. 59, as the two teams will look to improve upon their standing. The Gophers will then travel to Iowa City, Iowa to take on the No. 71 ranked Hawkeyes. Live scoring and streaming for the March 5 match will be available courtesy of Nebraska Athletics, while live coverage and updates will be available on GopherWTennis Twitter.