Ruiz, Hofbauer Earn ITA National Rankings

GREENVILLE, N.C. - Celia Ruiz, a senior on the ECU women's tennis team, will begin the 2018-19 season ranked in the top 100 of the country in both singles and doubles play, as announced by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) on Tuesday.

"A great ranking for Celia to start the season as well as for Celia and Lisa," said head coach Tom Morris. "It's a good place to be at the beginning of the season. Hopefully we can build on that and the ranking can keep moving up."

Ruiz, who became the first player in program history to be nationally-ranked during the 2016 season, checks in at No. 50 in the singles rankings. Ruiz finished last season with a 21-4 record in singles play. She went 15-3 in dual matches, playing all 18 matches at the top position. The senior from Pontevidra, Spain is a three-time All-AAC performer and was the 2017 American Co-Player of the Year. She played in some of the top tournaments in the country last year, reaching the Oracle ITA Masters Quarterfinals, reached the Riviera/ITA All-American Championships qualifying rounds, and earned an at-large bid to the Oracle ITA National Fall Championships, becoming the first ECU player to do so.

Along with being ranked on the singles poll, Ruiz teamed with junior Lisa Hofbauer to crack the top-50 of the doubles rankings. The Pirate duo check in at No. 43 in the country, moving up from No. 85, which is where they were ranked in the final poll of the spring season. Ruiz and Hofbauer combined to finish 10-7 last season, including 8-5 in dual matches. The tandem won the 2017 ITA Summer Circuit Title and qualified for the Riviera/ITA All-American Championships.

ECU was slated to begin its fall season this weekend with the Duke Invitational, but the impending weather from Hurricane Florence has forced the cancellation of the tournament. The Pirates will not set their sights on the ITF Hilton Head tournament on Sept. 23.

Players Mentioned

Lisa Hofbauer

Celia Ruiz

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