Saturday, 04/02/2011

Skillman, N.J.----The Wingate University women’s tennis is the number 32 team in the Campbell/ITA NCAA Division II national rankings, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association announces this week. The Bulldogs are the number seven team in the Southeast Region rankings.

The Wingate women are 15-1 overall and 6-0 in the SAC. The Bulldogs have won 13 matches in a row. In the previous national ranking, Wingate was listed as the number 39 team.

The Bulldogs are 2-1 this season against nationally-ranked teams. Wingate defeated number 29 Augusta State 5-4 Feb. 2 at Augusta. The Bulldogs dropped a 6-3 home decision to number 30 Georgia College on Feb. 13. On March 6, Wingate defeated number 34 Charleston (W.Va.) 7-2 in Hilton Head, S.C. Augusta State is listed at the number 35 position in the most recent national rankings.

Wingate freshman Olivia Poole (Boca Raton, Fla.) is 16-0 overall in singles this season. She has played 16 matches at the number four singles position. Poole is one of four Bulldogs to earn SAC Player of the Week honors this season.

The Bulldogs’ six singles players each have double-digit victories. Bulldog sophomore Helen Goreski (Oakville, Ontario) is 14-1 overall, with a perfect 11-0 slate at the number six singles flight. Both sophomore Kelli Ferguson (Concord, N.C.) and freshman Morgan Winston (Lawrenceville, Ga.) are 13-3 overall in singles this season. Winston is 12-1 at the number three singles flight.

In doubles, the top team is freshman Ali Evers (Roswell, Ga.) and junior Samantha Alschlager (Indian Trail, N.C.). The duo is 14-1 overall at the number two doubles flight. Both Alschlager and senior Kara Stasikelis (Greer, S.C.) were named to the All-SAC team in 2010. Poole and Winston are 13-2 overall, with a 12-2 slate at the number three doubles position.

The Bulldogs return to SAC play this weekend, traveling to Newberry College Saturday for a 1 p.m. start. Wingate’s next home match is Friday, April 15, when the Bulldogs host NAIA powerhouse SCAD Atlanta at 1 p.m.