Feb. 14, 2011

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Three members of the University of Kentucky men’s tennis team are ranked in the new Intercollegiate Tennis Association singles rankings, including the third-ranked player in the country in junior Eric Quigley, the association announced Monday. Kentucky (8-2) fell one spot to 13th in the team rankings.

Quigley headlines the rankings for the Wildcats, moving back one spot to No. 3 after being ranked second in the nation in the preseason polls that were released Jan. 4. The native of Pewee Valley, Ky., is putting together his best collegiate season, holding a 28-5 record so far in 2011. The junior is 6-1 in dual-match play, but was 22-4 during the fall.

So far this spring, Quigley has been sensation for UK at the No. 1 singles position, winning six of his seven matches, including five by straight sets. His only dual-match loss came in a Kentucky loss at No. 1 Virginia to No. 27 Michael Shabaz. Quigley has faced four top-62 opponents this season, scoring a 3-1 record in those matches, including wins over No. 11 Dennis Nevolo, No. 45 Jonathan Wolff and No. 62 Damian Hume. Quigley also secured his 100th career singles victory in a 7-0 UK win over No. 38 Miami (Fla.) last weekend.

Fellow junior Alex Musialek comes in at No. 70 in the most recent rankings. The native of Dax, France is 5-4 this season in dual-match play and 12-9 overall after a 7-5 posting this fall. Musialek has faced tough competition in 2011, squaring off against four ranked players with a 2-2 record in those matches. The junior defeated then-No. 85 Filipp Pogitskin of Boise State and then-No. 87 Tripper Carleton of Wake Forest. Musialek was ranked 39th in the preseason listings.

New to the rankings is sophomore Anthony Rossi, who comes in at No. 79 for his first career collegiate ranking in singles. Rossi has scored an impressive start to his sophomore campaign after being named to the Southeastern Conference All-Freshman Team a year ago. The native of Marseille, France is 5-1 in dual-match play, playing primarily at the No. 4 or No. 5 singles position.

Including the 13th-ranked Wildcats, 10 other SEC schools are ranked in the top 60, including No. 3 Tennessee, No. 11 Florida, No. 16 Georgia, No. 18 Ole Miss, No. 22 Auburn, No. 28 Vanderbilt, No. 32 Alabama, No. 33 Mississippi State, No. 35 LSU and No. 59 Arkansas.

Kentucky will return to action Friday in the ITA National Indoor Championships. The event will be played in Seattle.