SKILLMAN, NJ - William and Mary's doubles team of senior Amy Wei (Marietta, GA) and junior Megan Muth (Covington, LA) earned the highest individual ranking in school history, with their selection as the No. 2 team in the nation in the preseason Intercollegiate Tennis Association Women's Tennis Rankings, released by the ITA this morning. The Tribe has a total of four singles players and two doubles teams in the rankings, which are based on a vote of eight regional chairs.

Muth and Wei earned All-America status last season after reaching the quarterfinals of the 2004 NCAA Tournament, while also earning first team All-Colonial Athletic Association honors for the second straight year. The two won the ITA East Regional Championship in the fall, on their way to a 31-11 record, tied for the most wins by a doubles team in school history, including a victory over the top-ranked team in the country (Stanford's Lauren Barnikow and Erin Burdette) in the postseason. The duo's No. 2 ranking surpasses the previous W&M individual high of fourth in the country, which was earned by the doubles team of Lauren Nikolaus and Johanna Sones on April 15, 1997.

"It is obviously quite an accomplishment to be recognized as one of the premier teams in the nation," said Tribe head coach Kevin Epley, now in his second season at W&M. "This ranking is a testament to the commitment that Amy and Megan have made to improving their doubles game. The NCAA Tournament win over the No. 1 team in the nation last year was truly a high point and really laid down the groundwork for this season. There is a lot of excitement and momentum surrounding our team right now, and Amy and Megan are leading the charge."

Also earning a ranking in doubles is the team of senior Candice Fuchs (Sarasota, FL) and freshman Megan Moulton-Levy (Monroe, MI), who have yet to play a collegiate match together.

Muth, the 2004 CAA Co-Player of the Year and 2003 CAA and ITA East Region Rookie of the Year, is also ranked 15th in the country in singles. Last year she put together a record of 28-15 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Singles Championship. Senior Lena Sherbakov (Mountain View, CA) is ranked 82nd in the nation, after ending last season ranked 116th with a record of 23-11 and earning first team All-CAA honors. Fuchs, who did not play the spring season in 2004, is ranked 99th in the country in singles, while Wei, another first team all-conference pick in singles, is ranked 109th, following her 21-15 season last year.

The Tribe ended the 2004 campaign ranked 35th in the nation with a record of 20-13. W&M won its conference-record 17th CAA Championship last spring, while advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the 13th time overall and the ninth time in the last 10 seasons. Epley was named the 2004 CAA Coach of the Year in his first season at the College. W&M will open the 2004 fall season September 24-26, when the Tribe hosts the William and Mary Invitational.

W&M Women's Tennis in 2004 Preseason ITA Rankings
Singles
#15 Megan Muth
#82 Lena Sherbakov
#99 Candice Fuchs
#109 Amy Wei

Doubles
#2 Megan Muth/Amy Wei
#56 Candice Fuchs/Megan Moulton-Levy