Ithaca Men's Tennis Earns National, Regional Rankings
ITHACA, N.Y. - The Ithaca men's tennis team earned places in national and regional rankings as the Intercollegiate Tennis Association released its preseason rankings reflecting the fall portion of the 2010-11 season. Ithaca's team is ranked 13th in the Northeast Region by the ITA.
Senior Josh Rifkin (Homestead/Ft. Wayne, Ind.) and junior Jimmy Newton (Florida Virtual School/Englewood, Fla.) earned national rankings. Their doubles team is ranked 14th in the nation, and Rifkin is ranked 43rd nationally in singles play. Rifkin and Newton won doubles championships at the Middlebury and St. Lawrence Invitationals during the fall season, advanced to the finals at the Bloomsburg Invitational, and were semifinalists at the ITA Northeast Regionals. The duo went 12-2 in doubles matches, and is ranked third in the Northeast Region.
Rifkin posted an 11-3 record in singles play and advanced to the finals at the ITA Northeast Regionals. He won the first singles title at the St. Lawrence Invitational. It is the highest singles ranking ever by an Ithaca men's tennis player. He is ranked 10th in the Northeast Region for singles.
The Bombers participated in four tournaments during the fall season, and will begin dual-match play in March.