April 6, 1999

LUBBOCK, Texas - The Texas Tech men's tennis team has been ranked 28th in the nation in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association poll. The ranking is the highest ever for a Texas Tech team under Director of Tennis Tim Siegel. Texas Tech is currently 12-8 on the 1999 season, however, six of the eight losses have come to teams ranked in the top 20.

Also earning individual recognition was Ryan Shupe (Greensboro, North Carolina) who is ranked 88th in the nation by the ITA. The junior becomes the first member of the team to be listed as a top 100 player this year. Shupe holds an 11-6 record for the spring season including a win over 25th ranked Pawel Gajdzik of Baylor.

Texas Tech returns to play at home for the first time in three weeks when they face Oklahoma State on Friday, April 9, at 1:30 p.m. at the Lubbock High School courts. Oklahoma State has a 5-6 record on the season.

Texas Tech is also three win shorts of setting the record for the most wins under Siegel. The previous high was 14 wins in 1993, Siegel's first year leading the team. With three regular season matches remaining against OSU, 40th ranked Kansas and Tyler Junior College and the Big 12 Tournament in College Station, Texas, there is a good chance the team can match and eclipse the mark. The most wins ever for a Texas Tech team is the 1990 squad that won 23 matches under Ron Damron's leadership.

"I think this ranking is a testament to the hardwork of our team this season," Siegel said. "This is one of the best groups I've had the chance to coach here at Texas Tech. I feel they are capable of closing out the remainder of the season undefeated and carry that momentum over to the Big 12 and NCAA tournaments."