Univ. of Georgia Team Page
ATHENS, Ga.--The Georgia women's tennis team will being the spring season ranked No. 6, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association announced Thursday in its first released rankings of 2013.
"The preseason rankings show that we had a good fall," said head coach Jeff Wallace. "But we realize that the most important season is in front of us. There is still a lot of work to do. "
Florida took the top spot, followed by UCLA, Duke, Southern California and Stanford, respectively.
Additionally, four Bulldogs were ranked in the singles Top-125 rankings, and two Georgia pairs were ranked in the doubles Top-60 rankings.
Sophomore Lauren Herring, reigning SEC Freshman of the Year, will start the season ranked No. 8. She went 17-2 in the fall, including 6-2 against ranked opponents.
Junior Maho Kowase cracked the Top-20 at No. 18 in the new rankings and junior Kate Fuller and freshman Makenzie Craft are ranked No. 54 and No. 76, respectively.
"For Lauren to jump into the Top-10 of the country is fantastic," continued Wallace. "And for Maho and Kate to both move up and for Makenzie to get into the rankings as a freshman are all really great. We are really pleased with where we are starting, but we all know what matters most is where you finish."
In doubles, the duo of Herring and Fuller come in at No. 15. The pair went 12-5 in the fall, including winning the ITA Southeast Regional. Kimbell and Kowase are ranked No. 22. Last year, they went 24-2, including a school-record setting 22-match winning streak.
The Bulldogs finished the 2012 season ranked No. 6 after going 24-5 and advancing the NCAA Quarterfinals.
Georgia opens the 2013 spring season with the Bulldog Invitational Jan. 18-20.
