December 6, 2006

SMC Tennis Receives High Marks In Pre-Season
Men’s Team Ranked 15^th, Women Receive First-Ever Ranking

SPARTANBURG, S.C. –  Spartanburg Methodist College’s men’s and women’s tennis teams will start their 2007 season ranked in the top of the National Junior College Athletic Association. 

The Intercollegiate Tennis Association has ranked the SMC men’s tennis team 15^th and the women’s team 24^th among all junior colleges in the NJCAA. The annual rankings are based on the results of regional championships. 

The highest the SMC men’s team had previously been in ITA pre-season rankings was 19^th. The team closed its 2006 season ranked 27^th. 

This is the first time that the SMC women’s team has ever received any ITA rankings. 

Four members of the SMC men’s team have also received singles rankings. Those rankings are as follows: 

Ranking          Name                          Year                High School   _____Hometown

34                Peter Hooper            Sophomore     Spartanburg             Spartanburg, SC      

60                Scott Murray            Sophomore     West Henderson        Hendersonville, NC

72                Jake Parker              Sophomore      Fort Mill                  Tega Cay, SC

73                William Stone             Freshman      Forsyth Central         Cumming, GA

In doubles, Hooper and Murray are ranked 18^th out of 33 pairs nationally.

“People have underestimated our SMC tennis teams in the past, the men’s team especially. But our players are now getting the recognition that they deserve,” says Jim Greene, SMC men’s and women’s tennis head coach. 

“We have some outstanding players, with a tremendous amount of talent. These rankings show that we will have two very competitive teams in the 2007 season.” 

Both the SMC men’s and women’s tennis teams consist solely of recruits from the southeastern United States.  

“This is a sport traditionally dominated by international players. In light of that fact, our players are being afforded an opportunity that they might not have elsewhere. They have the advantage of bring able to mature their talent before going on to play at the next level,” Greene says.

For more information please contact coach Jim Greene at (864) 587-4353 or athletic director Mark Perdue at (864) 587-4237.