Dizdar ranks No. 20 in preseason ITA Tennis rankings
AUSTIN, Texas -- The University of Texas men's and women's tennis teams have combined to have three singles players in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's (ITA) Preseason Tennis Rankings. Leading the way in the ITA rankings for the Longhorns is women's tennis sophomore standout Petra Dizdar (Split, Croatia). Dizdar, the 2004 Big 12 Freshman of the Year, enters the preseason with the No. 20 national ranking after helping the Longhorns capture the Big 12 regular season title, with an 11-0 record and reach the second round of the 2004 NCAA Team Championships. Playing at the No.1 singles spot last year, Dizdar recorded a 15-11 dual match record en route to earning All-Big 12 Conference honors in singles. She also played in the NCAA Championships individual singles competition. Junior Katie Ruckert (Vienna, Va.) was also named to the preseason list with the No. 94 national ranking. After redshirting her sophomore season due to a shoulder injury, Ruckert returned to the Texas lineup in 2004 and played predominantly at the No. 2 singles position. She amassed a 19-7 dual match record and earned All-Big 12 Conference honors in singles. On the doubles side, Ruckert and junior Kendra Strohm (Tucson, Ariz.) were recognized on the preseason list as the No. 19 doubles team in the nation. Earning 2004 All-Big 12 Conference honors in doubles, Ruckert and Strohm recorded a 16-11 dual match record at the No. 1 position. The lone representative for the men's team, junior Roger Gubser (Laredo, Texas), returns to the preseason ranks after redshirting last year. Gubser stands at No. 112. Gubser finished his sophomore season with a 22-13 overall record in singles, playing as high as No. 4 in the line-up. He will be looked to as a leader for a team that boasts seven newcomers to this year's squad. Both Texas teams begin fall invitational play next weekend. Coach Jeff Moore's women's squad begins its fall seasons next weekend, Friday-Sunday, Sept. 17-19, travelling to Waco to take part in the Baylor Invitational. The UT men, under the direction of head coach Michael Center, will host the UT Fall Invitational in Austin from Sept. 17-19. The next ITA individual rankings will be posted at the start of the spring season, in January of 2005. For more ITA information, go to ITATennis.com.
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