SKILLMAN, N.J. – The Allegheny men's tennis program earned the best ranking in program history, picking up a No. 16 ranking in the most recent Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Division III Central Region rankings, announced by the ITA office on Mar. 27.
After picking up three wins during their spring break trip, including the first win over No. 17-ranked Carleton College in program history, the Gators head into the home stretch of conference and spring season play with a 7-4 record. In Hilton Head, S.C., the Gators swept Macalester and Ramapo, 9-0, on Mar. 16 and Mar. 19 respectively before rebounding from a 6-3 loss to nationally-ranked NAIA squad Pikeville with a 6-3 win over Carleton on Mar. 21.
Senior Patrick Cole, who earned North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Men's Tennis Player of the Week accolades on Monday, finished the spring training trip with a 4-0 mark in singles, moving up to No. 10 in the Division III Central Region singles rankings, the highest spot for an Allegheny player in program history. Cole closed out Allegheny's spring break trip by tying the program record in career singles victories, currently holding 74 individual wins and a 17-4 record this season.
In addition, Cole and sophomore doubles partner Tyler Triolo, who own a 16-5 mark after the spring training contests, remain in the rankings at No. 15.
The Gators' No. 16 ranking surpasses the previous program record of No. 18 set in the pre-season rankings released in October 2008. Allegheny will face a difficult spring schedule consisting of nine matches in 16 days, starting on Apr. 3 when the Gators open their spring season at the Robertson Complex against NCAC rival Kenyon at 5:30 p.m.
