Butler Leads Mustangs in Preseason Rankings
Sep 16 | Men's Tennis
DALLAS (SMU) - With the fall season have already started the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) released its preseason rankings Tuesday, with SMU being represented by red-shirt sophomore Samm Butler who comes in at No. 78 in the opening Oracle/ITA poll.
Butler who turned in one of the top freshman campaigns in school history in 2014-15, capped the year with the second most singles win on the team going 20-4. The Marlborough native also became the first Mustang to pick up 20 dual match singles wins in one season since Alex Skrypko in 2006.
Samm's ranking comes as no surprise has he beat No. 122 Arjun Kadhe of No. 31 Oklahoma State in straight sets, took down American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year and No. 72 Andrew Watson of No. 49 Memphis in straight sets in the conference quarterfinals and registered eight singles matches win against players from a top-75 team.
"Samm had a great season last year and this is just a reflection of all of his hard work and we're all very proud of that" Head Coach Carl Neufeld said.
Selection for the 2015 ITA Men's All-American Championship were also announced, with Butler earning a spot in qualifying singles draw while Nate Lammons made the alternate list as well as qualifying doubles with partner Arkadijs Slobodkins. Seven mustangs made the prequalifying singles, Alex Reinke, Slobodkins, Charles Nettlefold, Hunter Johnson, Yates Johnson, Lammons and Julio Olaya.
The first team rankings of the 2015-16 season will be released by the ITA on January 5, 2016.
SMU continues its fall season on Friday, when they head to Midland, Texas for the Midland Intercollegiate Invitational.
