Sooners Land Four in ITA Preseason Ranks

NORMAN – The University of Oklahoma men's tennis team turned in yet another historic season in 2016, advancing to the final at the NCAA Championships for the third year in a row. The Sooners return four starters from that squad and all four appear in the, released on Tuesday.

Senior Andrew Harris leads the way for OU at No. 24, while fellow seniors Alex Ghilea and Florin Bragusi rank 40^th and 106^th, respectively. Junior Spencer Papa sits at No. 50.

This marks the second consecutive season OU has placed four players in the preseason singles rankings. The Sooners have also had at least two players appear in the poll in each of the last eight seasons. First-year head coach Nick Crowell is happy with his players' position in the initial poll.

"These guys have been here a long time and deserve all the accolades they have gotten. We have been working hard this fall and we're looking for big things throughout this season."
- Head Coach Nick Crowell

“It is always great to have your guys ranked in the preseason,” Crowell said. “These guys have been here a long time and deserve all the accolades they have gotten. We have been working hard this fall and we're looking for big things throughout this season.”

Oklahoma is one of six schools with four players in the singles rankings, joining California, Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma State and USC. Virginia leads the nation with five players in the poll.

Harris, who missed the majority of last year with an injury, finished the 2016 season ranked No. 41 in singles after going 7-3. Harris played in just five regular season duals, but was instrumental in Oklahoma's deep NCAA run. The senior boasts a career record of 45-15 in dual-play singles and was named the 2015 ITA National Player to Watch. Harris is a five-time All-Big 12 selection, a 2015 ITA All-American in singles and was the 2014 Big 12 Freshman of the Year.

Ghilea isn't far behind Harris with a career dual-play mark of 45-19 in singles. He ended the 2016 season at No. 65 in the Oracle/ITA rankings and was named to the All-Big 12 squad in singles. Ghilea was named the Most Outstanding Player at the 2015 ITA National Indoor Championship where he led Oklahoma to its first ever title at the event.

An Edmond, Okla., native, Spencer Papa made a big leap in 2016. After spending most of the 2015 season at No. 6 singles, Papa played at No. 2 and No. 3 singles in 2016. Papa finished the year at No. 79 in the ranks with a record of 11-12. The powerful junior came to OU ranked as the No. 1 recruit in the nation and the No. 1 junior player in the United States.

Bragusi burst onto the scene in 2015 as a sophomore when he played at No. 6 singles for OU and was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. He earned a reputation as the Sooners' closer after going 4-0 in situations in which he was the last match on with the dual tied at 3-all in 2015. Not only was Bragusi perfect in those situations, they were also some of the Sooners' biggest matches, including the Big 12 Championship final, matches with Ohio State and Virginia as well as the round-of-16 meeting with UCLA at the NCAA Championships. He's racked up a career dual-play record of 25-14 including a 12-7 mark a year ago.

The Sooners are also represented in the doubles rankings with Papa and Ghilea appearing at No. 22 and Harris and Bragusi sitting at No. 35. Papa and Ghilea paired to go 9-5 a year ago, primarily at No. 2 doubles. Harris and Bragusi have yet to pair up in doubles.

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