NC State tennis ranked No. 19 in ITA preseason poll

RALEIGH The N.C. State men's tennis program will start the 2023 season ranked in the top 20, according to the ITA preseason poll.

The Wolfpack was ranked No. 19 in the first poll of the season, released Wednesday morning.

Last season the team finished the year ranked No. 18.

Nine N.C. State opponents, including five in the ACC are ranked in the preseason top 25. Virginia is ranked No. 1.

"We always aim to set one of the toughest schedules in the country that will allow us to be prepared for ACC play," head coach Kyle Spencer said.

The Wolfpack team continues to rise, coming off a trip to the Sweet 16. Spencer has led the team to the NCAA tournament four times in a row.

At the conclusion of the fall tennis campaign, the NC State men's tennis team had one individual and two doubles pairs in the final ITA Collegiate Tennis Rankings.

Fifth-year senior Rafa Izquierdo Luque saw his name on both lists that were released on Wednesday.

Izquierdo Luque finished the fall with a 7-2 record. He finished No. 122 in the final ITA rankings. In 2022, Izquierdo Luque was an All-ACC Second Team selection. He was also named to the All-ACC Academic Team.

Last year he ended the season ranked No. 96 in the ITA singles rankings.

Izquierdo Luque also saw his name in the doubles rankings, finishing No. 21 in the final rankings with Joseph Wayand.

The duo won the ITA regional title in Cary on Oct. 25. That win secured them a spot in the ITA Championships in San Diego. Izquierdo Luque and Wayand pulled off a win over the USC duo of Stefan Dostanic and Bradley Frye, the No. 2 team.

Izquierdo Luque and Wayand went 6-2 in the fall.

Martins Rocens and Fons Van Sambeek finished No. 38 in the final ITA rankings. They were previously ranked No. 29. Rocens and Van Sambeek went 6-2 this fall.

N.C. State starts the season on January 14, hosting UNC-Greensboro in a double header.

@PackMensTennis | #PackRisin

NC State tennis ranked No. 19 in ITA preseason poll

Players Mentioned

Fons Van Sambeek

Joseph Wayand

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