Eastern Michigan Athletics
ITA National Committee Overturns Eagles' Loss to Syracuse
2/18/2010 4:34:01 PM | Tennis
Coach Ray's protest results in a victory for EMU
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Intercollegiate Tennis Association National Ranking Committee has overturned a 4-3 loss by the Eastern Michigan University women's tennis to Syracuse University from Feb. 5, following a protest from EMU Head Coach Ryan Ray.
Ray protested the loss after learning Syracuse placed its best singles player in the No. 5 position, therefore facing the Eagles fifth-best singles player. According to ITA rules, players are to be placed in their respective positions according to previous play during the season. Syracuse's No. 74-ranked CC Sardinha (who was the highest-ranked singles player for the team) was placed in the No. 5 position despite two tournament wins and two wins against other nationally-ranked players during the fall season.
Syracuse Head Coach Luke Jenson said the team played a round-robin style match prior to their match against EMU which determined their seeding, but Ray contended that that is not protocol under ITA rules and regulations.
“You're supposed to place your players according to skill level with one being your highest level of skill player and six being your lowest,” Ray explained.
The decision amends the Eagles' record to 3-3 overall on the season.
The Eagles face a pair of tough opponents this weekend, Feb. 20-21, as they travel to Lincoln, Neb. to take on Northern Iowa and No. 51 Nebraska.
Ray protested the loss after learning Syracuse placed its best singles player in the No. 5 position, therefore facing the Eagles fifth-best singles player. According to ITA rules, players are to be placed in their respective positions according to previous play during the season. Syracuse's No. 74-ranked CC Sardinha (who was the highest-ranked singles player for the team) was placed in the No. 5 position despite two tournament wins and two wins against other nationally-ranked players during the fall season.
Syracuse Head Coach Luke Jenson said the team played a round-robin style match prior to their match against EMU which determined their seeding, but Ray contended that that is not protocol under ITA rules and regulations.
“You're supposed to place your players according to skill level with one being your highest level of skill player and six being your lowest,” Ray explained.
The decision amends the Eagles' record to 3-3 overall on the season.
The Eagles face a pair of tough opponents this weekend, Feb. 20-21, as they travel to Lincoln, Neb. to take on Northern Iowa and No. 51 Nebraska.
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