SKILLMAN, N.J. -- Barry University women's tennis team is back at the top again. The Buccaneers earned the No. 1 ranking in the NCAA Division II national poll as voted on by coaches who belong to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.
The Buccaneers (18-1) have beaten two of the teams ranked in the top four this season. Their only loss was a 5-4 setback to North Florida, which was ranked No. 63 in NCAA Division I at the time of the match.
Barry, which was ranked No. 1 in the regular season a year ago, owns the top billing ahead of Armstrong Atlantic, BYU-Hawai'i, Hawai'i Pacific and Lynn. The Bucs beat Armstrong Atlantic, 5-4, and HPU, 5-2. BYU-Hawai'i, which was ranked No. 2 in last month's poll, is 16-0, but fell one spot to No. 3.
In the individual rankings, Barry's Emma Onila is ranked No. 7 in singles. Teammate Karina Goia is No. 10, and Linda Fritschken is No. 43. Onila and Fritschken are ranked No. 6 in doubles.
The ITA national poll is based on region rankings around the country. The region rankings were released a week earlier. Barry is ranked No. 1 in the South Region poll.
Onila is No. 3 in the South singles rankings. Goia is No. 5, Fritschken is No. 9. Ana Pain is No. 20. Fritschken and Onila are No. 3 in the region doubles rankings. Kimmy Twelker and Pain are No. 8 in the South pairs rankings.
Barry hosts No. 8 Rollins 10 a.m. Sunday on Senior Day. The Bucs will honor seniors Akemi Maehama and Cristina Valladares.