Dec. 14, 2000

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara's men's tennis team is ranked 75th heading into the 2001 season, marking the first preseason ranking ever for the program. The poll, released by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association on Tuesday, also ranked seven of the Broncos' opponents, led by No. 6 TCU.

The Broncos finished the 2000 season with a 15-9 record and earned the program's first national ranking ever, finishing the season at No. 65. Santa Clara won nine of its last 10 dual matches, including a second-place finish in the WCC tournament, en route to the recognition.

"It's exciting that we're in because we lost three seniors who were four-year starters," head coach Sean Burns said. "It shows the coaches who vote still have respect for the program, despite tough losses like that."

Seven players do return from that squad with the addition of five freshmen. Three of which are upperclassmen who were integral to last year's success. The lone senior is Matt Cox, who finished 16-10 in singles action last season as the team's primary No. 4 singles competitor. Cox won four singles matches this fall, including a quarterfinal victory over fellow Bronco Federico Mattioli. Cox, with fellow junior Eric Bachelor, return as the team's second doubles tandem. Junior Adam Artunian gives the Broncos added depth in singles action.

The other 11 players on this spring's squad are underclassmen, but they are far from inexperienced. Mattioli, a sophomore, led the team this fall with a 9-4 record. Teammate Ryan Livesay led all freshmen on the team with 15 singles victories. Mike Bruggemann, who red-shirted the 2000 season, will give the Broncos depth, he has also teamed with Livesay in fall tournaments this year to go 4-3 in doubles play. Sophomore Adam Lewis has already become another option for singles action going 6-3 this fall with a finals appearance in the StockCoverage.com Invitational, held in Stockton.

With the addition of redshirt freshmen Rick Ruso and true freshmen Michael Duong, Eric Chen, and Jack Fleming--and their combined 43-37 fall singles mark--the youthful Broncos look to continue their success from last season, opening spring dual-match action on January 19 at No. 52 Arizona State.

WingspanBank.com Collegiate Tennis Rankings
Administered by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association
NCAA Division I Men's Team Rankings - Top 75
Release: Dec. 12, 2000

This Last
Rank Year Team Votes
1 1 Stanford (42 first-place votes) 2400
2 3 Tennessee 2356
3 4 UCLA 2304
4 5 Duke 2285
5 8 Texas A&M 2247
6 10 TCU 2200
7 18 Georgia (1) 2186
8 6 Illinois 2161
9 2 Florida 2148
10 9 Virginia Commonwealth 2115
11 14 Mississippi 2107
12 11 Pepperdine 2097
13 17 Southern California 1956
14 12 LSU 1937
15 7 Baylor 1933
16 12 SMU 1911
17 22 Mississippi State 1910
18 20 Minnesota 1890
19 19 San Diego State 1811
20 16 Texas 1771
21 15 Fresno State 1768
22 24 Miami (Fla.) 1764
23 25 South Alabama 1738
24 36 California 1646
25 30 Auburn 1573
26 21 North Carolina 1556
27 27 Indiana 1537
28 33 Washington 1512
29 23 Michigan 1491
30 29 Indiana State 1442
31 31 Clemson 1438
32 35 Ohio State 1427
33 34 Notre Dame 1422
34 26 Boise State 1392
35 40 Virginia 1298
36 32 UAB 1273
37 39 Louisville 1269
38 28 UL Lafayette 1235
39 38 Purdue 1217
40 37 Kentucky 1181
41 41 South Carolina 1118
42 46 Florida State 1040
43 44 Tulsa 1037
44 42 Tulane 1007
45 58 Oklahoma State 941
46 43 New Mexico State 932
47 50 Alabama 909
48 47 Arkansas-Little Rock 884
49 48 Florida Atlantic 827
50 49 Ball State 823
51 54 Northwestern 779
52 52 Arizona State 735
53 45 Georgia State 715
54 60 San Diego 652
55 53 Pacific 643
56 56 Harvard 608
57 63 Middle Tennessee 607
58 51 Oklahoma 469
59 69 Virginia Tech 420
60 55 Arizona 413
61 57 Kansas 402
62 62 South Florida 363
63 59 Oregon 339
64 61 DePaul 336
65 66 BYU 330
66 NR Vanderbilt 329
67 NR Princeton 293
68 75 William & Mary 292
69 72 Southern Mississippi 267
70 64 Florida A&M 264
71 NR Arkansas 263
72 67 Western Michigan 233
73 70 Georgia Tech 223
74 NR Rice 210
T75 65 Santa Clara 195
T75 68 New Mexico 195

2001 Opponents in Italics