Fresno State Athletics
Bulldogs Open Spring Ranked No. 70
1/12/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
By Josh Mitchell
jomitchell@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif. The Fresno State women's tennis team will open up the 2015 spring season ranked No. 70 by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. The defending Mountain West champions are the lone team in the conference to rank inside the ITA's Top 75.
"It's a great start to move up a spot in the preseason rankings as we know we now have everyone's attention," head coach Ryan Stotland said. "We are excited to work hard and see how far we can go this year. Being the top ranked team in the conference is a great honor and we will train as hard as we can to maintain that."
Last season, the Bulldogs finished 16-9 and 5-0 in the conference, while earning a perfect 10-0 record at home. Fresno State captured its first MW championship with a 4-2 win in the finals at the conference tournament to receive the league's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.
Junior Sophie Watts is the top ranked player in the Mountain West according to the ITA, coming in at No. 47. The native of Hitchin, England ended 2014 with a 14-11 dual record at the No. 1 spot, including a 4-1 mark during the MW regular season. She won seven of her final 10 matches on the year.
"Sophie had her best fall yet and we are all excited to have her as the top ranked player in the entire conference. She has worked very hard and is always looking to get better so I have no doubts that she will have her best spring semester as well," Stotland said of the junior.
The Bulldogs open up their spring season with the three-day Cal Nike Winter Invite in Berkeley, Calif., beginning on Jan. 16. Their first home match of the season will be on Jan. 31 as they host Cal Poly and Fresno City College.
