Amherst, Washington claim top spots in Division III Campbell/ITA College Tennis Rankings

Amherst, Washington claim top spots in Division III Campbell/ITA College Tennis Rankings

Top spots: The Amherst women and Washington University men’s tennis teams both knocked off former top-ranked programs, Williams College and Emory, respectively, to capture the top spot in the Division III Campbell/ITA College Tennis Rankings. Top-ranked Amherst (15-1) lost its first match of the year to former No. 1 Williams College but has avenged that loss not once but twice in the past month with a pair of 5-4 victories over the Ephs. The Lady Jeffs have knocked off seven straight ranked opponents in their 14-match win streak. The men of Washington University (19-2) have also avenged their early loss to conference rival and former No. 1 Emory with a 5-4 defeat over the Eagles to wrap up their spring season. The two programs have a long history including Washington’s 6-3 victory over Emory in the 2008 NCAA Division III Championship and Emory’s 6-3 win against the Bears in the year’s ITA Division III National Team Indoor Championship.

Rounding out the Top 10: Following Washington in this week’s men’s top 10 are (in order): Emory, UC Santa Cruz, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, Middlebury, Amherst, Kenyon, Williams, Gustavus Adolphus and Redlands. On the women's side, Amherst is followed by (in order): Williams, Emory, University of Chicago, Washington and Lee, Carnegie Mellon, Pomona-Pitzer, Redlands, Denison and Johns Hopkins.

Conference Count: Men's Top 25: NESCAC – 6; UAA – 4; SCIAC – 3; NCAC and SCAC – 2; ASC, CAC, Centennial, Independent, Liberty, MIAC, NWC and USA SAC – 1. Women's Top 25: NESCAC – 5; UAA – 4; SCAC and SCIAC – 2; CAC, CCI&A, Centennial, Independent, Liberty, MIIA, MIAC, NCAC, NEWMAC, NJAC, ODAC and WIAC – 1.

Twice as Nice: Sixteen Division III schools have both their men’s and women’s programs ranked inside this week’s top 25.

Mark Your Calendar: This year's NCAA Division III Championship begins May 8-10 for both men and women with first, second and third round play at campus sites. The final eight men’s teams face off May 19-24 at Biszantz Family Tennis Center in Claremont, California. The women’s final eight teams also compete May 19-24 at Collins Hill Athletic Club in Lawrenceville, Georgia.