Texas Tech University Athletics
Men's Tennis Enters Season Ranked No. 15
January 05, 2011 | Men's Tennis
Jan. 5, 2011
LUBBOCK, TX - The 2011 Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) preseason rankings have been released and the Texas Tech men's tennis team enters the spring season ranked 15th in the country, while one singles player and a doubles team are also ranked.
Junior Gonzalo Escobar from Mantua, Ecuador, is ranked No. 20 in singles. In doubles rankings, Rafael Garcia, a junior from Ribeirao Preto, Brazil, and Escobar are ranked No. 39 nationally.
"I am really happy for Gonzalo because he had such a great fall," said head coach Tim Siegel. "Although it is early, the January rankings are also positive for our team because it shows that they had a good fall."
During the fall tournament play, Escobar posted a 10-4 singles record and was 8-2 in his last 10 matches. Escobar defeated Rice's Harry Fowler 6-2, 6-1, to become the USTA/ITA Regional singles champion and earned an automatic berth in the USTA/ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships. After winning his opening round match in New York, he defeated the No. 8 seed, Chase Buchanan, of Ohio State to become the first Red Raider to advance to the Quarterfinals of the USTA/ITA Indoor Championships.
Escobar and Garcia finished the fall with a 3-3 doubles mark.
After individual play at the Sarasota Invitational this month, the Red Raiders open their spring season on Jan. 21 at UNLV and will take on UC Irvine on Jan. 22 in Las Vegas.
Players Mentioned
