May 31, 2007

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The USC Upstate men's tennis team closed out its widely successful run in NCAA Division II with a final No. 5 ranking in the final Top 40 national coaches poll released by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.

Lynn, which won the national championship, finished the year ranked No. 1 and was followed in the Top 10 by West Florida, Valdosta State, Armstrong Atlantic State, Upstate, Drury, UC San Diego, Barry, Lander, and Quachita Baptist. Upstate was one of eight Peach Belt Conference schools listed in the Top 40. AASU (4th), Upstate (5th), and Lander (9th) were ranked in the Top 10. In addition, USC Aiken (21st), Augusta State (23rd), Georgia College & State University (24th), Francis Marion (29th), and Columbus State (30th) were listed in the final poll.

Upstate finished the season with a 23-5 record. The Spartans were runners-up in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament and advanced to their sixth straight NCAA Tournament. Upstate defeated Anderson and Lander to advance to the NCAA Division II Nationals for the second consecutive year and the third time in the last four seasons. The Spartans advanced to the quarterfinals of the tournament before losing to West Florida, which finished second in the nation.

Individually, three Spartans finished ranked among the nation's leaders. Stefan Dumitrescu, who advanced to the Division II championship match in the Small College National Championships last fall, finished the 2007 season ranked fifth in singles. Sandy Franz was ranked No. 25. Dumitrescu and doubles partner Renzo Airaldi claimed a No. 9 national ranking in doubles play.