June 5, 2006
CHARLOTTESVILLE -
The Virginia women's tennis team concluded the 2006 season ranked No. 23 nationally in the final Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings of the year. The final ranking marked a 50-place improvement from the Cavaliers' preseason ranking of No. 73 in January, and is the second-highest finish in school history.
The Cavaliers went 14-10 on the season, reaching the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Virginia set a school record for conference wins in a season after posting a 6-5 ACC mark, its first winning season in the conference since 1994. During the season, the Cavaliers posted their first ever top ten wins, defeating No. 10 Duke 5-2 on March 25 and No. 6 Miami 4-3 on April 9. The season ended with the No. 23 national ranking, Virginia's second final top 25 ranking, and first since 1993 when the Cavaliers finished the season ranked No. 22.
In the final individual rankings, the doubles team of Kristen James (Clifton, Va.) and Lori Stern (Ojai, Calif.) ended the year ranked No. 29 nationally. The duo became just the fifth Cavalier team to participate in the NCAA Doubles Championship. In the final singles rankings, James, an All-ACC honoree, was ranked No. 125.
Head Coach Mark Guilbeau was named the 2006 ACC Coach of the Year. In addition to success on the court, Guilbeau had success recruiting this year. Virginia's class of five players, highlighted by two national junior champions, was ranked fourth nationally by tennisrecruiting.net. Those five newcomers will join eight players from this year's team with eligibility remaining.
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