Photo by: Rob Taylor
Celia Ruiz Earns Preseason National Ranking by ITA
September 15, 2017 | Women's Tennis
GREENVILLE, N.C. – Celia Ruiz, a junior on the ECU women's tennis team, will begin the 2017-18 season ranked No. 95 in the country, announced earlier this week by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA). Ruiz becomes the first player in program history to earn a top-100 ranking by the ITA.
"This ranking is well deserved," head coach Tom Morris said. "It's a testimony to the hard work and dedication in which Celia shows daily in our practices and workouts. She has improved the last two years from being and unranked player and we look forward to watching her game and ranking continue to improve."
Last spring, Ruiz became the program's first nationally-ranked player when she defeated North Carolina's Jessie Aney, who was No. 24 at the time. She debuted in the ITA rankings at No. 124 on March 24, a spot she would hold until April 4.
As a sophomore, Ruiz produced an 18-10 singles and 17-9 doubles record. During her first two years at ECU she has remained unbeaten in singles against fellow American Athletic Conference opponents.
Ruiz was named the 2017 American Athletic Conference Women's Tennis Co-Player of the Year, marking the first Player of the Year selection in program history.
She claimed the Furman University ITA Summer Circuit singles title this July and paired with teammate Lisa Hofbauer for the doubles crown. Ruiz's first-career Summer Circuit singles title earned her a ticket to the Oracle/ITA Masters in Mailbu, Calif., Sept. 21-14.
"This ranking is well deserved," head coach Tom Morris said. "It's a testimony to the hard work and dedication in which Celia shows daily in our practices and workouts. She has improved the last two years from being and unranked player and we look forward to watching her game and ranking continue to improve."
Last spring, Ruiz became the program's first nationally-ranked player when she defeated North Carolina's Jessie Aney, who was No. 24 at the time. She debuted in the ITA rankings at No. 124 on March 24, a spot she would hold until April 4.
As a sophomore, Ruiz produced an 18-10 singles and 17-9 doubles record. During her first two years at ECU she has remained unbeaten in singles against fellow American Athletic Conference opponents.
Ruiz was named the 2017 American Athletic Conference Women's Tennis Co-Player of the Year, marking the first Player of the Year selection in program history.
She claimed the Furman University ITA Summer Circuit singles title this July and paired with teammate Lisa Hofbauer for the doubles crown. Ruiz's first-career Summer Circuit singles title earned her a ticket to the Oracle/ITA Masters in Mailbu, Calif., Sept. 21-14.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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