TUCSON, Ariz. - The Columbus State University men's tennis team remained the top-ranked NCAA Division II team in the nation, while the Lady Cougars are back inside the top-10 in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings.

The Cougars have been atop the rankings for the last five editions of the poll, a span stretching over a calendar year. The women's team moved up a spot to 10th, their highest ranking since beginning the year inside the top-five.

Both teams are gearing up for the 2021 Peach Belt Conference Tournament that begins next week. On the men's side, the top-seeded Cougars will host fourth-seeded Flagler College on Monday, April 26 at 2 p.m. at the John W. Walden Tennis Center. 48 hours later, the Lady Cougars, who also enter the tourney as the first seed, will take on fourth-seeded Georgia College in Columbus. 

Alvaro Regalado (10-1 singles) is ranked second in the nation in singles play, while Christian Garay (10-2) and Tommaso Schold (15-1) are ranked 14th and 28th heading into postseason play. Regalado and Javier Cueto Ramos, who are 14-2 at first doubles, are also the second-ranked doubles pair at the DII level. Schold and his doubles partner Pietro Martinetti carry a perfect 16-0 record into the PBC Tournament.

Fifth-year senior Beatriz Lopez leads the Lady Cougars, who are looking for their fourth straight PBC Tournament title this upcoming week. Lopez is 12-2 as a singles player in 2021 and is ranked ninth in the nation. In doubles play, Lopez is also in the top-10 with Candice Paya, sitting in the eighth position. The duo is 8-2 on the year. Individually, Paya is ranked 38th after returning to the lineup later in the year to post a 5-1 mark.