Tennis Teams Enter 2023 Ranked Nationally

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Azusa Pacific’s men’s and women’s tennis teams were ranked No. 17 in their respective preseason national polls, which were released by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.

The women’s team is coming off a 2022 campaign in which the Cougars won their second straight PacWest title, reached Regionals for the fourth straight season, and then advanced to the quarterfinals at Nationals. From last year’s roster, eight players return, including Elenora Liga (ITA Singles All-American, PacWest Newcomer of the Year, All-PacWest First Team Singles & Doubles), Madison Kane (All-PacWest First Team Singles & Doubles ) and April Wong (2022 PacWest Championships Tournament Most Valuable Player).

On the men’s side last season, the Cougars captured the program’s second PacWest title and continued their streak of reaching the NCAA playoffs in every season since Azusa Pacific first qualified at the league level. Division II (2015), as the Cougars advanced to the National Quarterfinals. Seven players from last season’s squad return this season, including All-PacWest players Leyton Bohren, Miha Velicki and Elias Emilio Walter.

Both teams will open the 2023 season this weekend in Azusa, with Fresno Pacific taking on the Cougars on Friday, and Division III Pomona-Pitzer heading to Saturday. On Friday, the men’s game will start at 11:00 a.m., the women will follow at 2:30 p.m., and on Saturday, the men will start at 10:00 a.m., the women will follow at 2:30 p.m.