THE FLATS – As the Georgia Tech women’s tennis team prepares for the opening of the fall season this weekend, six Jackets earned preseason recognition on Tuesday appearing in the ITA Preseason Rankings. Four returners and two newcomers represented Tech in the rankings.
Four Jackets were ranked in singles action with seniors Johnnise Renaud and Paige Hourigan leading the way coming in at No. 23 and No. 49, respectively. Renaud capped her junior season with a 22-6 dual singles record, including a 12-1 ACC ledger. Hourigan posted a 20-8 dual singles record last season and earned at-large berths into both the NCAA singles and doubles championships.
Sophomores Kenya Jones and Nami Otsuka rounded out the quartet ranked in singles at No. 103 and No. 111, respectively. Jones opened her collegiate campaign with a 23-7 dual singles record last season, while teammate Otsuka compiled a remarkable 25-2 dual singles mark.
After posting a 25-3 doubles mark last season, the Yellow Jacket tandem of Hourigan/Jones come in at No. 3 in the preseason rankings. The duo finished last season ranked No. 17 and advanced to the round of 16 in the NCAA Championships.
Also appearing in the doubles rankings are newcomers Ida Jarlskog and Victoria Flores as the No. 40 duo in the nation. Additionally, the ITA releases a 10-member ITA Freshmen-Newcomer Rankings preseason poll and both Jarlskog and Flores appear on the list at No. 7 and No. 8, respectively. Of the 10 member list, five players represent ACC schools.
The Jackets open the fall tournament this weekend at the Duke Invitational. Five Jackets will make the trip to Durham, N.C.: Flores, Nadia Gizdova, Jarlskog, Jones and Otsuka.
Also announced were the 2017 Riviera/ITA Women’s All-American Championships Selections. The Jacket duo of Jones/Hourigan earned a main draw doubles selection, while Renaud appeared on the main draw singles alternate and qualifying singles lists. Hourigan also earned a spot on the qualifying singles list.
