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.Â
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.