Utah State men's tennis is ranked No. 70 in the nation in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association poll, earning the highest ranking in school history. Utah State was last ranked during the 2010-11 season, when it reached as high as No. 71.
“When you set your sights to the top of the mountain, you achieve little victories along the way. This ranking is a small victory for the current team and the goals we have set, but a giant leap for this program," USU head coach Clancy Shields said. "This ranking should only propel this team forward, and it validates the belief we have in our players and the confidence they have in each other. This is certainly not a stopping point for us, but a stepping stone toward the next goal.”
Utah State is off to a perfect 6-0 start this season, including road wins over BYU, Gonzaga and a home win against then-No. 70 San Diego State. The win against the Cougars was USU's first win against BYU in program history, snapping a 50-match losing streak. Utah State's win against the Aztecs was USU's first Mountain West win since joining the league during the 2013-14 season.
The Aggies are led by sophomores Dennis Baumgartner and Sebastian Schneider, who are each a perfect 5-0 in singles play during the dual match season. Freshman Jaime Barajas is 5-1, including the match-clinching win against San Diego State, while sophomore transfer Karan Salwan is undefeated with a 4-0 record.
Doug Hoffman is the associate athletic director for Utah State University Athletic Media Relations.