March 26, 2003

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The University of Memphis men's tennis team (9-6 overall, 2-1 Conference USA) climbed to No. 55 in the nation with three non-conference wins in Memphis this past weekend.

The Tigers' No. 1 doubles team of senior Ben Stapp (Sydney, Australia) and junior Lee Taylor Walker (Jackson, Tenn.) also broke back into the national rankings for the first time in four weeks at No. 52. Stapp and Walker ranked as high as 12th in the nation at the beginning of the spring dual season, but a three-match losing streak on the Virginia spring break trip dropped them temporarily from the rankings.

Stapp and Walker are the second-highest rated doubles team in Conference USA. Only Tulane's team of Michael Kogan and Victor Romero ranked higher (No. 6). Louisville's Cody Conley and Octavian Nicodim ranked 60th in this week's poll.

Stapp's recent singles streak is even more impressive with the most recent poll. Stapp downed Georgia State's Mathias Ormaza, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, Saturday, and Ormaza is currently the 82nd ranked singles player in the country. The senior from Sydney, Australia, shared C-USA Men's Tennis Player honors this week after going 2-1 last week, suffering his only singles loss to now No. 94 Pablo Martinez.

The Tigers remain at home this weekend, hosting Tennessee Tech, Friday. That match is slated to begin at 3 p.m. Projected thunderstorms and cool weather may push that match to The Racquet Club of Memphis.

The Golden Eagles of Tennessee Tech are off to a 7-6 start for the season and are 1-0 in the Ohio Valley Conference. Tennessee Tech alum Aldrin Campos is in his second year at the helm of the program and guided the Golden Eagles to a 16-10 record in his first season.

Omni Hotels College Tennis Rankings
Administered by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association

1.	University of Illinois
2.	University of Florida
3.	Baylor University
4.	UCLA
5.	University of Mississippi
6.	Stanford University
7.	California
8.	Vanderbilt
9.	University of Washington
10.	Texas A&M University
11.	Duke University
12.	University of Kentucky
13.	University of Minnesota
14.	Georgia Tech
15.	Virginia Commonwealth
16.	University of Alabama
17.	University of Texas-Austin
18.	University of South Carolina
19.	University of Georgia
20.	Louisiana State University
21.	University of Virginia
22.	Pepperdine
23.	University of Indiana *
24.	Rice University
25.	University of Miami (Florida)

* Tiger opponent

Conference USA Ranked Schools
27. Tulane
38. TCU
43. South Florida
48. University of Louisville
55. University of Memphis

Tiger Opponents in Top 75
38. William & Mary
42. Virginia Tech
43. South Florida
46. Mississippi State
63. Indiana State

Tiger Opponents Who Were Ranked But Not in Current Rankings
Middle Tennessee, Old Dominion