SANTA CLARA, Calif. - After breakout performances in 2012, Santa Clara University men's tennis players John Lamble and Ilya Osintsev have earned national rankings in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's 2012-13 Preseason rankings.
The two Broncos garnered individual rankings as singles players, but also have been tabbed as the highest-ranked preseason doubles team in program history. Additionally, their recent efforts have allowed both Broncos to be invited to the All-American Championship Series held in Sept. 29 through Oct. 6 in Tulsa, Okla.
"It's a great start to the year, especially when guys are recognized for having great years last year," said Santa Clara head coach Derek Mills. "I hope this is a spring board for the team to see that this is a new year and our goals should be very high."
As a tandem, Lamble and Osintsev earned a preseason doubles rank of No. 30. The duo played as the Broncos' No.1 doubles pairing last season earning an end of the year ranking of No. 68 and a regional rank of No. 8. The two Broncos were recognized as Second Team All-WCC performers in doubles and were picked as the WCC Doubles Players of the Month in March. Their ranking has given them a qualifying spot in doubles at the All-American Championship.
Lamble – a junior from Saratoga, Calif. - will enter the 2012-13 season ranked No. 40 nationally. Last season, Lamble served as the Broncos' No. 2 singles player while tallying a team-best 25 wins. He earned All-WCC Second Team honors in both singles and doubles. His preseason ranking has given him a spot in the Main Draw of the ITA Men's All-American Championships.
Lamble ended his sophomore campaign with two big wins against ITA ranked opponents during Santa Clara's first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament. In the NCAA's first round, Lamble posted a three-set victory over No. 102 Daniel Whitehead of Texas. That victory helped fuel the Broncos' first NCAA Tournament win in program history. In round two, Lamble stunned No. 27 Ryan Thacher of No. 11 Stanford in straight sets (7-5, 6-3). Those two wins vaulted Lamble to No. 77 in the final 2011-12 ITA rankings, the highest-ever for a Santa Clara player in the final ITA poll. At his current pace, Lamble will break Santa Clara's all-time record for individual wins.
Reigning WCC Freshman of the Year, Ilya Osintsev, garnered a preseason ranking of No. 103. During his rookie campaign in 2011-12, Osintsev was tabbed as an All-WCC Honorable Mention in singles and Second Team All-WCC in doubles. Osintsev played as the Broncos' No. 6 singles competitor while amassing a 20-3 record. After starting the season 1-1, Osintsev went undefeated in February and March on his way to a 14-match winning streak.
Osintsev won arguably the biggest singles match of any Bronco during the 2011-12 campaign, defeating Ben Chen of Texas in NCAA tournament first round action (7-6, 7-6). Osintsev's victory over Chen, which included tiebreaks in the first two sets, clinched Santa Clara's win over Texas and assured the Broncos their first-ever NCAA Tournament win in the process.
The rising sophomore's preseason ranking has given him a qualifying spot in singles play of the All-American Championship Series.
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