ITA Division I Women’s Rankings

PHILADELPHIA – After their outstanding performance at the USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships, advancing all the way to the consolation semifinals, Penn’s doubles pair of sophomore Sol Eskenazi and freshman Sonya Latycheva have earned national recognition. The Campbells/ITA College Tennis Rankings were released on Jan. 3, and the Quaker pair was ranked No. 14 in the nation. In addition, they are ranked No. 1 in the Northeast Regional rankings.

After pairing up early in the fall for the Columbia Invitational, where the two went 2-0 but did not compete in the semifinal match due to injuries, they did not compete together again until the end of the season at the ITA Northeast Regional Championships. The duo decimated the competition in West Point, N.Y, winning all six matches – including wins over two top-45 opponents – en route to the Northeast Regional championship and an automatic bid to the USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships in Flushing, N.Y. a few weeks later.

At the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center the Quaker pair went head to head with four power-conference teams – two from the PAC-12 and two from the ACC. The duo faced Paige Miles and Tereza Bekerova of Utah in the first round, and after tying the match 5-5, took the next three games, winning the match 8-5 over the now-No. 23 doubles pair in the country.

Next they faced the UNC pair of Ashley Dai and Whitney Kay in the round of 32. The Tar Heels jumped out to a 7-3 lead, but the Quakers fired back and won the next two games. Penn ultimately fell short, 8-5, to the now-No. 8 doubles pair in the country, but would receive a bid to the consolation bracket because of their first-round win.

There they would dominate USC in their first match, winning 8-3. Next they lost, 8-6, to eventual consolation champion and now-No. 6 doubles team in the nation, Erin Vierra and Maci Epstein of Virginia.

Eskenazi and Latycheva compiled an outstanding 10-2 overall record together during the fall. Because of their ITA Northeast Regional championship, the No. 1 regional ranking was inevitable. Also, by beating some powerhouse programs at the National Championships, they cemented themselves as a top team in the country.

The women’s tennis team will begin its spring season on Jan. 19 when the Quakers host Lehigh and Saint Joseph’s for a doubleheader at the Levy Tennis Pavilion.