COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The Texas A&M doubles team of Rutuja Bhosale and Rachel Pierson is a school-record No. 9 in the final Oracle/ITA Collegiate Rankings, released today by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. The ranking shatters the program's previous final ranking record of No. 15, achieved by Pierson and Eva Paalma in the ITA's 2015 final doubles rankings.
Both seniors also set career highs for final singles rankings, with Pierson finishing No. 23 and Bhosale receiving a No. 60 final ranking. Pierson's previous career high for a singles final ranking was No. 30 in 2015, and Bhosale's former high was No. 65 set at the conclusion of the 2016 season.
The pair was instrumental in leading Texas A&M to an 18-13 record and a No. 16 final team ranking this season after the Aggies reached the NCAA Championship round of 16 before falling to eventual national champion Florida.
For the compete ITA final rankings, go to http://www.itatennis.com/ResultsAndRankings/Rankings/Oracle_ITA_Division_I_Women_s_Collegiate_Tennis_Rankings.htm
In addition to the record-setting final doubles ranking, Bhosale and Pierson set several other program firsts this season while accruing a 26-12 record. They became A&M's first-ever All-Americans in doubles after receiving a No. 5-8 seed in the 32-team NCAA Doubles Championship field, and they received an all-time record-high No. 4 ranking on April 11. Only the third doubles team in A&M history to ever reach the NCAA round of 16, they came up just short of becoming the program's first duo to ever reach the quarterfinals.
Bhosale, from Pune, India, accrued 91 doubles victories throughout her four-year A&M career, ranking ninth in the all-time school records.
Both Bhosale and Pierson, who transferred to Texas A&M following her freshman season at Virginia, competed in the 2017 NCAA Singles Champions. Pierson, a native of Princeton, New Jersey, earned All-America honors by receiving a No. 9-16 seed in the 64-player field, and thus became the first player in Texas A&M history to earn All-America accolades in both singles and doubles. She also was named the ITA Texas Region Senior Player of the Year.
Pierson, who played the No. 1 line in both singles and doubles this year, led the Aggies in singles victories with 26-16 record in 2017. The two-time All-SEC first-team member posted a 64-43 record over her three-year Aggie career.
Bhosale, a three-time selection to the All-SEC Second Team, went 20-14 in singles this season and finishes 78-50 over her four-year career.
Visit 12thMan.com for more information on Texas A&M women's tennis. Aggie fans also can keep up to date with the A&M women's tennis team on Twitter by following @AggieWTEN or on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/pages/Aggie-Womens-Tennis/143874782434654
Both seniors also set career highs for final singles rankings, with Pierson finishing No. 23 and Bhosale receiving a No. 60 final ranking. Pierson's previous career high for a singles final ranking was No. 30 in 2015, and Bhosale's former high was No. 65 set at the conclusion of the 2016 season.
The pair was instrumental in leading Texas A&M to an 18-13 record and a No. 16 final team ranking this season after the Aggies reached the NCAA Championship round of 16 before falling to eventual national champion Florida.
For the compete ITA final rankings, go to http://www.itatennis.com/ResultsAndRankings/Rankings/Oracle_ITA_Division_I_Women_s_Collegiate_Tennis_Rankings.htm
In addition to the record-setting final doubles ranking, Bhosale and Pierson set several other program firsts this season while accruing a 26-12 record. They became A&M's first-ever All-Americans in doubles after receiving a No. 5-8 seed in the 32-team NCAA Doubles Championship field, and they received an all-time record-high No. 4 ranking on April 11. Only the third doubles team in A&M history to ever reach the NCAA round of 16, they came up just short of becoming the program's first duo to ever reach the quarterfinals.
Bhosale, from Pune, India, accrued 91 doubles victories throughout her four-year A&M career, ranking ninth in the all-time school records.
Both Bhosale and Pierson, who transferred to Texas A&M following her freshman season at Virginia, competed in the 2017 NCAA Singles Champions. Pierson, a native of Princeton, New Jersey, earned All-America honors by receiving a No. 9-16 seed in the 64-player field, and thus became the first player in Texas A&M history to earn All-America accolades in both singles and doubles. She also was named the ITA Texas Region Senior Player of the Year.
Pierson, who played the No. 1 line in both singles and doubles this year, led the Aggies in singles victories with 26-16 record in 2017. The two-time All-SEC first-team member posted a 64-43 record over her three-year Aggie career.
Bhosale, a three-time selection to the All-SEC Second Team, went 20-14 in singles this season and finishes 78-50 over her four-year career.
Visit 12thMan.com for more information on Texas A&M women's tennis. Aggie fans also can keep up to date with the A&M women's tennis team on Twitter by following @AggieWTEN or on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/pages/Aggie-Womens-Tennis/143874782434654