COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State men’s tennis team is ranked fifth in the season opening Intercollegiate Tennis Association released Thursday evening. The Buckeyes have now been ranked in the Top 5 of the opening ITA poll for seven-consecutive seasons.
Ohio State, which finished the 2013 season ranked fourth, follow No. 1 Virginia, No. 2 UCLA, No. 3 Georgia and No. 4 USC in the standings. Seven of Ohio State’s 2014 opponents are ranked in the Top 30 – (in order of schedule) No. 9 Kentucky (twice), No. 12 Texas A&M, No. 29 Notre Dame, No. 10 Oklahoma, No. 3 Georgia, No. 22 Illinois and No. 25 Tulsa.
In singles, senior Peter Kobelt is ranked No. 31 heading into his final season as a Buckeye. Kobelt, a native of New Albany, Ohio, is a two-time All-American (2013 singles and doubles) and was runner-up at 2012 ITA All-American Championships. He is a two-time Academic All-Big ten and four-time Ohio State Scholar-Athlete (2010-13). In doubles, Kobelt is paired with Kevin Metka to make the No. 7 doubles duo in the country. The two Buckeyes went 13-3 during the 2013 fall campaign.
The Buckeyes begin the 2014 campaign Jan. 22 against Butler and Xavier at the Ohio State Varsity Indoor Tennis Center.
