Tech ranked No. 5 in regional year-end rankings
Louisiana Tech claimed its highest regional ranking ever, finishing No. 5 in the NCAA Division I Women’s year-end southern regional in an announcement made by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) sponsored by Tennis-Point.
Tech, which was ranked No. 9 last season in the region, has now been ranked four times in the last decade. The 2023 Lady Techsters eclipsed the previous high ranking of No. 7, which occurred in 2014 and 2016.
Also making history was junior Leonie Schuknecht who was ranked No. 15 in the southern region in singles, the highest ever ranking by a Tech player and only the second other Lady Techster to be ranked in the yearend regional rankings.
The team, led by Conference USA and Southern Region Coach of the Year Amanda Stone, posted a 20-6 overall record in 2023, the second most victories in program history. They also had their highest finish ever in C-USA while advancing to the semifinals of the C-USA Tournament for the first time ever.
The Lady Techsters were nationally ranked in the last six ITA collegiate team polls of the season, ranking as high as No. 64 in the country and finishing the season ranked No. 73.
Schuknecht was a First Team All-Conference USA selection in singles, playing every match from the top position. She registered a 16-3 dual record, the .842 winning percentage being the highest of any C-USA player at the No. 1 spot.
The 16 victories tied for the sixth most in a single season in program history. Schuknecht, who was a two-time C-USA Athlete of the Month and two-time C-USA Athlete of the Week selection during 2022-23, opened the spring with a nine-match winning streak, including victories over Wyoming, Tulsa, and USF.
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Southern Regional Rankings (Team) 1. Auburn 2. LSU 3. Alabama 4. Ole Miss 5. Louisiana Tech 6. South Alabama 7. Mississippi State 8. Tulane 9. Samford 10. McNeese State
