NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Expectations continue to rise as the the Vanderbilt men’s and women’s teams continue their progression up the national rankings. This is evident by the 2002-03 Omni Hotels Collegiate Tennis Preseason Individual Rankings, which was released on Monday. The preseason rankings were administered and voted on by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.

When it comes to expectations, there is none greater than being ranked No. 1. Senior Sarah Riske (McMurray, Pa.) and junior Aleke Tsoubanos (Chesterfield, Mo.) earned this distinguished honor, as they become the first tennis players in Vanderbilt history to receive a preseason ranking of No. 1. After finishing the 2001-02 season as All-Americans following their quarterfinal result at the NCAA Championship, the two are more than ready to deal with the expectations. Riske and Tsoubanos combined for a 25-6 doubles record last season.

Riske’s success is not only limited to her doubles play, as the preseason rankings have her at No. 10. The senior finished her junior campaign with a 23-9 overall singles record, which earned her second-team All-SEC honors. Junior Kelly Schmandt (Santa Barbara, Calif.) enters the upcoming season ranked No. 54. Last season, Schmandt was nearly unbeatable, finishing with an overall record of 24-3.

On the men’s side, junior Bobby Reynolds (Acworth, Ga.) received a preseason ranking of No. 9 after finishing the 2001-02 season with a national ranking of No. 15. Reynolds, who played at the No. 1 position last season, finished last yearwith an overall record of 30-13. He becomes only the second player in Vanderbilt men’s tennis history to be ranked in the top 10 of a preseason ranking (Chris Groer). One of Reynolds’ highlights last season was his victory over eventual NCAA individual champion Matias Boeker from the University of Georgia. Junior Chad Harris (Aurora, Colo.) gives the Commodores two players ranked in the top 40, as he enters the season ranked No. 38. Harris compiled a solid record of 23-13 while playing at the No. 2 position.

Reynolds and junior Lewis Smith (Memphis, Tenn.) round out the Commodores in the preseason rankings. The doubles tandem, which concluded last season with a nationally ranking of No. 32, jumped up 13 spots to No. 19 for the start of the season.

Women’s Singles Top 10

1. Vilmarie Castellvi - Tennessee
2. Megan Bradley - Miami (Fla.)
3. Agata Cioroch - Georgia
4. Jewel Peterson - Southern California
5. Kelly McCain - Duke
6. Sara Walker - UCLA
7. Erin Burdette - Stanford
8. Kat Pinchbeck - North Carolina
9. Adria Engel - Arizona State
10. Sarah Riske - Vanderbilt

Men’s Singles Top 10
1. Jesse Witten - Kentucky
2. Tobias Clemens - UCLA
3. Romain Ambert - Mississippi State
4. John Fruttero - California
5. Benjamin Becker - Baylor
6. Amer Delic - Illinois
7. Phillip King - Duke
8. Oliver Maiberger - San Diego State
9. Bobby Reynolds - Vanderbilt
10. Daniel Klemetz - Middle Tennessee State