AUBURN, Ala. – The Auburn women's tennis team is ranked No. 25 in the initial Intercollegiate Tennis Association Rankings, which were released Thursday.
The Tigers, who advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the sixth straight season in 2018, are ranked in the preseason top 25 for the third consecutive year. Auburn is coming off a 2018 season that saw the Tigers post a 20-11 overall record (8-5 SEC) and finish at No. 24 in the final ITA rankings. The Tigers return six letter-winners from that team and welcome four newcomers for 2018-19.
Sophomore Jaeda Daniel leads the way into the 2019 spring season with a preseason singles ranking of No. 61. Daniel put together a 24-15 record in singles last season and was named to the All-SEC First Team and All-Freshman Team. So far this season, Daniel has a pair of singles wins over ranked opponents and earned a bid to the ITA National Fall Championships.
In doubles, the team of junior Taylor Russo and freshman Sophia Graver is ranked No. 14 nationally entering the spring season. The duo posted a 7-3 record in the fall season and defeated two ranked opponents while winning the first flight of the Marliss Gruver Fall Invitational in October.
Head coach Lauren Spencer enters her eighth season at the helm of the Auburn program. She continues to build on her record as the Tigers' all-time wins leader with a 129-77 mark on The Plains.
Auburn opens the season with four home matches the weekend of Jan. 19-20. The Tigers will play Alabama A&M and Mercer on Saturday, Jan. 19, then take on Central Arkansas and Mercer on Sunday, Jan. 20. All home matches take place at the City of Auburn/Auburn University Yarbrough Tennis Center on Richland Road.
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Auburn women's tennis No. 25 in preseason rankings
