College Rankings Released: Virginia and Georgia Tech are No. 1
The ITA released the Division I team and individual rankings today, and although there are a few surprises, it isn't the teams in the top spots. The University of Virginia men received 27 of the 37 first place votes, with the defending NCAA champion University of Georgia receiving the other 10. Georgia Tech, the defending NCAA women's champion, collected 25 of the 26 first place votes, with UCLA getting the remaining vote, but finishing third overall behind Tech and Stanford.
The individual rankings support the team choices--Georgia Tech has three players in the top seven, and Virginia has three in the top 12, including No. 1, NCAA champion Somdev Devvarman. The women's top-ranked player is ITA Indoor champion Aurelija Miseviciute of Arkansas. In the new Frequently Asked Questions section, which I encourage everyone to read, there is an example made of Jesse Levine, who was unranked last January and five months later ended his collegiate career as the No. 3 ranked player. Two-time NCAA finalist Lindsey Nelson of USC, for example, had injury problems last fall, and is unranked, but if healthy, she'll be one of the top women players again this year. Luis Flores of Georgia didn't play collegiate tennis this fall. Florida's Julia Cohen may end up following Levine's trajectory, and there will be other unranked players making their debut during the dual season who will be familiar names come the NCAA tournament in May.
One caution: do not pay any attention to the class year designation given next to the player's name. They are occasionally right, but often way off. Miseviciute, for example, is listed as a freshman. She is a junior. All of Virginia's ranked men are a year off, as are Georgia's. If you really want the correct year, you have to go to the team's roster on the school's athletic site.
I look forward to comments (NO anonymous comments, please) about whether you think Virginia and Georgia Tech will hold NCAA trophies in May and who is poised to cut a Levine-like swath through the college field.
10 comments:
At Georgia Tech, Miller has always played at number 1 but now McDowell and Johansson are ranked above her. Does that mean when they get to duel matches that they have to line up with McDowell at 1, Johansson at 2 and Miller at 3?
To Pat Harrison,
Hello, I read that Christian Harrison decided not to play for Les Petits As again this year. I must admit that I was very disappointed because I was rejoicing to see his excellent tennis again. If I'm not too curious, why such a decision? I mean, he did so well last year, I'm sure he could have won the tournament this year... Thank you for your answer and the best of luck to your son that, I'm positive, many spectators will miss in France.
Pierrick
I still think UGA is the favorite this year, with UVA battling them for the top spot. I also wouldnt be surprised to see USC or Baylor make a run at the title. I could see USC being a 7-12 seed and making a run like they did in 2002.
Stanford is extremely underranked if everyone on that team plays. If they are healthy they are surely a top 10-15 team at worst in my opinion.
Look for Florida to lose some matches they shouldnt and win some they shouldnt.
And here's a bold prediction, UCLA will make the quarterfinals this year, haha.
I dont follow too much womens tennis, but I think Georgia Tech will roll to the title.
UVA definite favourites in response to Austin. Also USC will be top 5 not 12- 16 come May. And I doubt Baylor will be that strong this year. I have a feeling the schools from the west coast are going to be really strong if you look at the rankings. Lots of players from USC, Stanford, UCLA and Pepperdine there.
Pierrick, Christian has played a lot of tennis lately and this was the best time for him to take a couple of weeks off. He also wanted to work on some things in his game when he started back which would take time so he is working on them and looking to getting back to tournaments in February playing some I.T.F.'s in Mexico. The U.S. sent a very good group of kids that will be exciting to watch and I hope they do well and enjoy the hospitality and tournament as much as Christian did last year. He and his brother Ryan who played a couple of years before talk about that tournament often and feel it is one of the neatest tournaments a junior could ever play. The only thing in the States that we have that is comparable for juniors is the tournament this website is named after which is the 16's and 18's Nationals in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Good luck with the tournament this year and go root for the Americans. Pat Harrison
Jamie, I believe that Austin was right. When the rankings came out, both Luis Flores, who has been successfully competing on the pro tour this fall and Javier Garrapiz, formerly the #1 junior in Spain, who has also played the pro circuit, were not even included. Neither of whom even received a ranking. We all know what Flores can do, Garrapiz, has tons of victories over ranked players including his fellow Spainard, Guillermo Gomez of GT who is ranked 81. Just the fact that Josh Varela and
Drake Bernstein, who was listed at #15 on Tennisrecuiting.net's class of 2007, aren't in the lineup tells you not only about there strength but there depth. I believe Georgia will be #1 before it's all said and done.
I'm still wondering if anyone can answer my question? Do the current rankings determine the way the players must line up during duel matches?
Virginias top 4 will beat Georgia 3 1 alone and thats excluding a very strong possible 5 (Sanam SIngh) and a 6 like Houston Barrick or Angelinos. Somdev is a great 1 and followed by Shabaz Inglot and Huey. . UVA are much stronger. Garrapiz is much more of a clay courter. Huey was beating Flores at NCAAs last year in the semis. Its clear that UVA are stronger and rightly ranked 1, not to say UGA r not strong and of course contenders. But everyone is strong there is a great field this year
No, the rankings dont determine the lineup order. With that being said a coach and file a complaint if he/she thinks something is fishy.
I agree w/ Jamie. UVa is the big favorite.
Their doubles are very strong. Shabaz and Singh possibly at 3 That is a guaranteed point (like it was for UGA last year)
Somdev is essentially a lock at #1.
That means someone has to win 4 of 5 of the rest of the singles to beat UVA. Very unlikely.
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