CSU Tennis Teams Ranked in Final National Polls

Columbus, Ga. -- Columbus State tennis coach Evan Isaacs learned of his teams' final rankings on Thursday, following one of the most successful seasons for the Cougar tennis program in school history. The CSU men, national semifinalists, were ranked ninth in the final Division II Intercollegiate Tennis Association men's poll, while the CSU women finished 12th.

The top 10 finish for the Cougar men caps a remarkable season in which the Cougars finished second in the Peach Belt Conference, hosted and won its portion of the Mid-Atlantic Regional to advance the Division II Tennis Championships, and made it into the national semifinals. The appearance in the D-II Championship was the first in school history for the Cougars and the semifinal appearance was the first at an NCAA championship by any tennis team in school history. The Cougars finished the season with a 20-5 season mark.

In addition to the team's national ranking, a pair of individuals also appeared in the final rankings. Frank Suarez finished as the nation's 20th-ranked singles player, earning All-American honors. Suarez and partner Christophe Noblet finished 12th in the nation in doubles, narrowly missing All-American status. The top 20 singles players and the top 10 doubles teams earn All-American status. 

Regionally, the Cougars were second in the Southeast Region as a team, while Suarez was ninth in singles and he and Noblet were fifth in doubles.

On the women's side, the Lady Cougar netters capped off another outstanding season as they finished with a 19-6 overall mark. That record landed them at #12 in the final national poll and third in the Southeast Region.

Individually, Loriane Favoretto was ranked #36 in singles, while teammate Tracy Castillo finished at #42. The pair were ranked 9th and 13th in the region standings.  Favoretto and partner Hanane Toumi finished ranked #20 in doubles in the final rankings (#6 in the Southeast Region).