March 21, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- The UAB men's tennis team is ranked No. 45 in the country, according to this week's FILA Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) rankings.

The Blazers (8-1) were ranked 75th three weeks ago but have vaulted 30 spots due to their current seven-match win streak.

Perhaps more impressively is the fact that of UAB's seven consecutive wins, six of those victories have come away from home. The Blazers' most recent action was a three-match sweep on the west coast last week of UC Irvine, Gonzaga and UC Riverside. UCI is listed at No. 58 in this week's rankings.

The Blazers are one of four Conference USA teams in this week's rankings. Tulsa is No. 8, Rice is No. 17 and SMU is at No. 56.

UAB is back in action Friday when the Blazers travel to Memphis to take on the C-USA foe Tigers. UAB is 3-0 against Conference USA competition thus far this season with wins over East Carolina, UCF and Southern Mississippi.