December 09, 2003
USI men’s and women’s tennis ranked in first regional polls
The University of Southern Indiana men’s and women’s tennis teams were ranked in the first Great Lakes Regional polls of the 2003-04 season. The men’s team was ranked third, while the women’s team was ranked ninth.
The number three regional ranking for the men’s team is the highest regional ranking in school history.
The women’s number one doubles team of sophomore Ashley Rees (Vincennes, Indiana) and freshman Audra Bartelt (Jasper, Indiana) were 10th in the regional poll. The pair combined for a 10-7 overall record in the fall, 6-3 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
The women’s team finished its fall season with an 8-4 overall record, 6-3 in the GLVC. USI also tied for third in the GLVC post season tournament with 5-0 wins over Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and the University of Indianapolis.
Individually for the men’s squad, freshman number two singles player Joe Epkey (Greenwood, Indiana) was ranked 48th nationally and fourth in the Great Lakes Region. Senior number one singles player Weston Phillips (Henderson, Kentucky) was eighth in the region. Epkey was 8-3 during the fall, while Phillips, who is just nine singles wins short of the USI record, was 8-1 during the first half of the year.
As a doubles team, Epkey and Phillips were ranked seventh in the region. The pair combined for a 6-1 record during the fall.
As a team, USI is 2-1 with victories over Division I opponents Lipscomb University and the University of Evansville in its fall season.
Ray Simmons, USI Sports Information
