Wake Forest Athletics
Deacs Earn Highest Ranking in Program History
2/17/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
Oracle/ITA Collegiate Tennis Division I Men's Team Rankings
By Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeMTennis)
SKILLMAN, N.J. – The Wake Forest men's tennis team moved up to No. 5 in the latest Division I Oracle/ITA Collegiate Tennis Rankings, announced by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association on Wednesday afternoon. The ranking is the highest in program history for the Demon Deacons. They moved up five spots from No. 10 in the last rankings on Feb. 3.
The Deacons are off to a 9-2 start after going 2-1 in their first-ever appearance at the ITA National Team Indoor Championships in Charlottesville, Va. last week. All but one of their victories have come against ranked opponents, including three wins over top-10 teams. Entering the season, the Deacs had five wins over top-10 teams since 2000.
Prior to this week, the highest Wake Forest had been ranked was No. 7 in 2007, when the team went 23-7 and reached the third round of the NCAA Tournament. That year also marked the last time the Deacs were in the top 10.
The Demon Deacons started the 2016 season ranked 11th, their highest-ever preseason ranking, after setting a school record with 24 wins en route to their third-ever Sweet 16 appearance last season.
So far this season, Wake Forest has been strong in both singles and doubles.
In singles, No. 28-ranked Skander Mansouri and No. 125 Petros Chrysochos are a combined 14-3 at the top two positions, including 6-1 against ranked foes. After a 1-7 fall season, Romain Bogaerts has had a resurgence in the spring, starting 9-1 with three wins over ranked opponents.
Mansouri and Christian Seraphim have led the team in doubles, playing at No. 1 in all 11 of the team's matches, winning six times with three victories versus top-50 pairings. The Deacs have won the doubles point in their last six contests.
After a week off, the Demon Deacons will kick off an 11-match homestand on Feb. 27 against No. 24 Texas at the Wake Forest Tennis Complex. They will take on No. 10 Texas Tech and Norfolk State the following day.
Players Mentioned
