By Brandon Rebboah

SANTA CLARA, Calif.- Seniors Kyle Dandan and Nicolas Vinel of the Santa Clara men's tennis team are ranked No. 37 on Intercollegiate Tennis Association's (ITA) 2011 men's doubles preseason rankings - the highest ever for a Santa Clara pair. 

Vinel played. Vinel and Dandan played as the No. 1 doubles for the Broncos and were tied for a team-high eight wins in doubles play.

"It sets a tone for our season," said Santa Clara head coach Derek Mills. "It lets our guys know that we have a lot to work towards this year. We return all our players and we can accomplish a lot."

The ranking is the third preseason doubles ranking for a Bronco tandem since 2002. The last Bronco pair to be ranked by the ITA was Gernot Fischer and Eric Kochanski, who were ranked No. 49 in 2004.

Dandan earned All-WCC honors for his singles play last season as well, compiling a 14-12 overall record as the Broncos' No. 1 singles player. Vinel made appearances as the third, fourth and fifth singles players for Santa Clara, amassing an overall record of 15-9.

Dandan and Vinel's ranking is the highest preseason ranking in school history. Additionally, last year's preseason team ranking (No. 54) was the highest in school history.

"The team and individual rankings that we have set while I have been here says a lot guys," said Mills. "They have been great and put in the work."

Dandan, Vinel and the rest of the Broncos open up the 2011-12 season in January against UC Santa Cruz. Click here to see the schedule.

View the entire ITA doubles preseason rankings here.