By Jocelyn VerVelde, Tennessee Tech Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech tennis program boasts it first nationally ranked student-athlete since 2009 as junior Alex Arovin will open the season listed tied for 94th nationally in the preseason Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) rankings. The ITA lists the Top 125 individuals.
"For Alex to enter the season ranked, it puts him in a great position for the season," head coach Kenny Doyle said. "It provides him an opportunity to help his chances of making the NCAA individual tournament, and it helps give him the opportunity to play challenging opponents leading up to conference play to help prepare him."
Arovin, a junior from Donetsk, Ukraine, is the first Tech tennis player to open a season ranked since Dean O'Brien opened the 2009-10 season ranked 82nd. Arovin is just the third TTU men's tennis player to earn a national ranking as Borja Zarco and O'Brien led the way.
Last season, Arovin finished second in the men's singles in the Ohio Valley Conference with a record of 15-3. No other OVC player enters the 2014-15 season with a preseason individual ranking.
The ITA will start posting weekly rankings in January. These rankings help determine who the NCAA chooses for the at-large bids for the NCAA's Individual's tournament.
