March 22, 2000
TEMPE, Ariz. - Arizona State women's tennis team jumped to No. 2 in the latest ITA Rankings, the program's highest ranking ever, surpassing last week's No. 4 mark.
Prior to this season, the program's highest ranking was achieved during the 1997 season, at No. 6.
The Sun Devils did not compete this past week, as classes were suspended for Spring Break. The squad boasts a 10-3 overall record with a 2-1 mark in the Pac-10 conference and have won eight of its last 10 matches, falling only to top-ranked Stanford and 12th-ranked USC.
ASU plays in one of the toughest leagues in the country, as five of the six southern Pac-10 schools are ranked in the top nine. Stanford is at the top, while California is sixth, USC is seventh and UCLA is ninth. In-state rival Arizona is also a formidable opponent, as it is ranked 16th in the latest poll.
The latest individual rankings were released March 15 with Allison Bradshaw moving up three spots to No. 10, despite not playing due to a foot injury. Junior Karin Palme, playing in the No. 1 spot for Bradshaw, went 2-1 in her singles matches this week, but dropped from No. 52 to a tie for 70th place. Freshman Megan Yeats remained ranked 81st for the second straight rankings period while Mhairi Brown slid seven spots, from No. 92 to No. 99. In doubles, the tandem of Bradshaw and Celena McCoury moved down 10 spots and are now ranked 29th, although the duo has not played together since Feb. 26.
Arizona State returns to competition this weekend, visiting non-conference opponent and 24th-ranked Texas on Sat., March 25. The match will begin at noon in Austin, Texas.