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UMW Boasts Nationally Ranked Teams

Women’s basketball, swimming, and tennis and men’s tennis teams all at the top of their games

By Clint Often

The UMW athletic department has several teams ranked nationally in their sports, with others expected to make a national splash this spring.

The UMW women’s basketball team entered the spring as the No. 1-ranked team in the nation, following last year’s run to the Final Four. The Eagles, unbeaten through the fall semester, were ranked first by the basketball website D3Hoops.com.

The women’s swimming team, under first-year head coach Matt Sellman, entered the spring ranked 15th in the nation by collegeswimming.com, thanks to strong performances at the University of Maryland Terrapin Invitational last November. The Eagles broke several school records and qualified provisionally for the NCAA Championships in several events.

With its top six players returning from last season’s 22-3 squad and with a ranking of sixth in the nation by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, the women’s tennis team began the spring season in its best position since 1993.

The men’s tennis team found itself ranked 12th in the nation at the beginning of spring. The team was ranked third in the Atlantic South region, behind only Emory and Johns Hopkins universities. All-American junior Randy Loden was ranked fifth in the nation in singles.

Women’s lacrosse looks to return to the NCAA Tournament this year after advancing to the NCAA Quarterfinals a year ago. All-region attacker senior Caitlin Erickson will lead a veteran team that broke the school record with 16 wins last year.

The women’s rowing team is poised for more success this spring after advancing to the NCAA Division III Championships last May. UMW finished seventh at nationals last year in its first-ever NCAA Championship appearance.

The equestrian team has high expectations after completing the fall semester atop the regional standings and competing in the national Holiday Tournament of Champions in Mount Olive, N.J.