University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Shibahara No. 1 in Preseason ITA Rankings
September 12, 2017 | Women's Tennis
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Following a debut campaign that saw her go 40-7, UCLA sophomore Ena Shibahara has been named the No. 1 player in the 2017-18 Oracle/ITA Preseason National Singles Rankings. She is also slotted at No. 4 alongside redshirt sophomore Jada Hart in the doubles rankings, while three other Bruins were also acknowledged in the preseason lists.
Shibahara earned a plethora of honors following her freshman year, including the ITA's National Rookie of the Year award. She also became the first player in Pac-12 history to earn the conference's Singles Player of the Year and Newcomer/Freshman of the Year honors in the same season. The Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. native tacked on All-Pac-12 First Team and ITA All-America accolades for good measure. She reached her previous career-high ranking on No. 2 twice in 2016-17. Shibahara recently made an appearance in the American Collegiate Invitational, where she defeated reigning NCAA Singles Champion Brienne Minor of Michigan before falling in the semifinals.
Joining Shibahara in the singles rankings are two returning Bruins and one newcomer. Ayan Broomfield, who is joining UCLA as a transfer from Clemson and will play immediately, begins her junior season slotted at No. 52. Returner Hart, who reached a career-best No. 81 as a redshirt freshman, will begin her sophomore season at No. 73, while senior Terri Fleming comes in at No. 82. Hart and Fleming each earned All-Pac-12 acknowledgement last season.
The doubles team of Shibahara and Hart, which reached a season-best No. 3 in the ITA rankings in 2016-17 and qualified for the NCAA doubles championships, will begin 2017-18 as the No. 4 team in the nation. Sophomore Gabby Andrews is joined by Broomfield at No. 20.
The ITA also announced the field for the 2017 Riviera/ITA Women's All-American Championships, which will begin with prequalifying matches on Sept. 30. Each of the five ranked Bruins will participate.
Players Mentioned
