HONOLULU – The defending NCAA Division II National Champion Hawai'i Pacific University men carry the number one ranking with the National Semifinalist women a number five ranking in the preseason Oracle/ITA Division II Collegiate Tennis Rankings released recently by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.
The Sharks have three singles players ranked in the top 50 between the two programs as well.
The HPU men are followed by Saint Leo (Fla.), Armstrong State (Ga.), Lander (S.C.), Valdosta State (Ga.), Columbus State (Ga.), Barry (Fla.), Lynn (Fla.), West Florida, and Embry-Riddle (Fla.) to round out the top 10.
In the women's rankings, Armstrong State (Ga.) is number one, followed by BYU-Hawaii, Lynn (Fla.), Saint Leo (Fla.) and HPU. Barry (Fla.) is sixth with West Florida, Columbus State (Ga.), Northeastern State (Okla.) and St. Mary's (Texas) completing the top 10.
The Sharks men have a pair of singles players nationally ranked by the ITA. Junior
Filip Dolezel of Brno, Czech Republic opens the season ranked 13th and second in the West Region. Senior
Torben Otto of Brunsbuettel, Germany is ranked 34th and fifth in the region.
The HPU women have one ranked single player. Senior
Nicole Hoynaski of Sydney, Australia is ranked eighth nationally and third in the rugged West Region.
The HPU men will open the season in early February against BYU-Hawaii, with the Sharks women staring the season on Feb. 18 against Sonoma State in the Holua Tennis Challenge at the Houla Resort in Kailua Kona.
+++ HPU +++
| Oracle/ITA Division II Men's National Team Rankings |
| Administered by the ITA |
|
| Preseason 2016-17 |
|
| |
|
|
| Rank |
School |
2016 Final Rank |
| 1 |
Hawaii Pacific |
1 |
| 2 |
Saint Leo |
2 |
| 3 |
Armstrong State |
3 |
| 4 |
Lander |
4 |
| 5 |
Valdosta State |
5 |
| 6 |
Columbus State |
7 |
| 7 |
Barry |
10 |
| 8 |
Lynn |
8 |
| 9 |
West Florida |
6 |
| 10 |
Embry Riddle |
9 |
| 11 |
Georgia College |
11 |
| 12 |
Northwest Missouri State |
12 |
| 13 |
UC San Diego |
13 |
| 14 |
Azusa Pacific |
14 |
| 15 |
Midwestern State |
15 |
| 16 |
Cameron |
16 |
| 17 |
Southeastern Oklahoma |
17 |
| 18 |
North Georgia |
18 |
| 19 |
Southwest Baptist |
19 |
| 20 |
Ferris State |
20 |
| 21 |
Nebraska Kearney |
21 |
| 22 |
Point Loma |
22 |
| 23 |
Saint Mary's (TX) |
23 |
| 24 |
St. Edwards |
24 |
| 25 |
Western New Mexico |
25 |
| Oracle/ITA Division II Women's National Team Rankings |
| Administered by the ITA |
|
| Preseason 2016-17 |
|
| |
|
|
| Rank |
School |
2016 Final Rank |
| 1 |
Armstrong State |
1 |
| 2 |
BYU-Hawaii |
2 |
| 3 |
Lynn |
4 |
| 4 |
Saint Leo |
3 |
| 5 |
Hawaii Pacific |
5 |
| 6 |
Barry |
6 |
| 7 |
West Florida |
7 |
| 8 |
Columbus State |
9 |
| 9 |
Northeastern State |
10 |
| 10 |
St. Mary's (TX) |
11 |
| 11 |
Southwest Baptist |
12 |
| 12 |
Flagler |
13 |
| 13 |
UC-San Diego |
14 |
| 14 |
Valdosta |
15 |
| 15 |
Nova Southeastern |
8 |
| 16 |
Indianapolis |
25 |
| 17 |
Cameron |
16 |
| 18 |
Francis Marion |
17 |
| 19 |
Georgia College |
18 |
| 20 |
Drury |
19 |
| 21 |
Midwestern State |
20 |
| 22 |
Sonoma State |
21 |
| 23 |
Azusa Pacific |
22 |
| 24 |
Cal State LA |
23 |
| 25 |
Academy of Art |
24 |
