March 17, 2009
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The Texas A&M men's tennis team climbed three spots to No. 15 in the latest Campbell/ITA College Tennis Rankings released on Tuesday.
The Aggies (6-5) are coming off a 4-3 upset of No. 7 Illinois on March 15 and will host their third-straight top 10 ranked opponent in No. 10 USC on Thursday, March 19 at 6 p.m. (CT). A&M will then turnaround and host No. 35 LSU on Saturday, March 21 at 1 p.m. (CT). There will be free admission to fans 18 years old and younger wearing maroon to both matches against the Trojans and Tigers at the George P. Mitchell Tennis Center.
Reigning Big 12 Conference Player of the Week Conor Pollock (San Antonio, Texas) moved up to No. 16 nationally in singles, while teammates Wil Spencer (Ponce de Leon, Fla.) and Austin Krajicek (Brandon, Fla.) are ranked No. 30 and No. 52 respectively in the latest ITA rankings.
Pollock, a senior All-American for the Aggies, has put together a team-leading 17-9 overall record at No. 1 singles this season. He and All-American doubles partner Krajicek climbed to a career-best No. 3 ranking in doubles with a four-match win streak against the nation's best tandems from Boise State, Washington, Ohio State and Illinois. The Aggie duo boasts an impressive 10-1 record in dual matches this spring.
Cook Wins McAllen Futures Pro Tourney...Former A&M men's tennis standout Lester Cook recently won the McAllen Futures Pro Circuit tournament held in McAllen, Texas. Cook, seeded fourth in the singles main draw, defeated Andrey Kumatsov of Russia, 1-6, 6-2, 4-0 (retired), in the finals. His tournament run also included victories over Yuki Bhambri of India in the first round, 6-4, 6-2, Bastian Knittel of Germany in the second round, 6-4, 6-2, fifth-seeded American and former Kentucky All-American Jesse Witten in the quarterfinals, 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-0, and American and former SEC Player of the Year from Florida Greg Ouellette in the semifinals, 7-5, 6-2. Cook played at A&M from 2002-04 and is a three-time All-American from Sherman Oaks, Calif. He compiled an 85-32 singles record for the Aggies and ranks 14th all-time in career dual match singles wins (64) and 15th all-time in career dual match doubles wins (56).