Six Ole Miss tennis players ranked in preseason polls

STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

All four of the Ole Miss men's tennis team's returning starters and two members of the Lady Rebels are ranked among the nation's best players in the preseason WingspanBank.com national rankings released Monday by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA). Monday's poll was determined by vote of the ITA National Ranking Committee.

The Rebels, three-time NCAA Final Four partici- pants, ended last year ranked No. 14 in the nation and qualified for the NCAA Championships for the ninth time in the history of the program.

Sophomore Alex Hartman, who enjoyed an outstanding freshman campaign, leads the Rebels at No. 10 in the nation. He is one of only three underclassmen ranked in the top 10. Hartman posted an impressive 33-18 record last year and a final ranking of No. 27.

Returning All-American James Shortall, begins his senior year ranked No. 19. He reached the NCAA Final Four in doubles last year and defeated several top nationally-ranked players on his way to a final ranking of No. 51 in singles and No. 12 in doubles.

Juniors Martin Selin and Kristofer Stahlberg are ranked No. 94 and 95 respectively. Selin posted a 20-10 record last year, while Stahlberg ended with a 26-10 record.

In doubles, Shortall and freshman Conor Casey, are ranked No. 22 in the nation, while Selin and Stahlberg are ranked No. 35. Selin and Stahlberg finished the 1999-2000 campaign with a 19-8 record.

Shortall and Hartman qualified for the main draw at the upcoming T. Rowe Price National Clay Court Championships. Selin and Stahlberg will be vying for a spot in the main draw at the qualifying tournament, which begins next week.

The Lady Rebels ended the 1999-00 year ranked No. 18 in the nation and qualified for the NCAA Championships for the eighth time in the program's history.

Sophomores Julie DeRoo and Mira Radu, who both enjoyed outstanding freshman campaigns, return as two of the top players in the country. DeRoo, who finished the 1999-2000 campaign with a 23-12 overall record, is ranked No. 28.

Radu begins the season at No. 44 in the nation. She ended her freshman campaign with a stellar 35-12 record.

DeRoo and Radu are ranked No. 41 in the country in doubles. Both have qualified for the main draw in singles at the upcoming T. Rowe Price National Clay Court Championships in Baltimore, Md.

The preseason team rankings and individual rankings based on fall results are released in December.