FLORENCE, SC – The Francis Marion University men’s and women’s tennis teams are both ranked in the 2007 fall Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) NCAA Division II Top 40 polls.

The Patriot women are ranked 15th, while the men occupy the No. 25 position.

The FMU women return five letterwinners from last year’s 16-8 squad that recorded the second-most wins in school history, ended the year ranked 16th, and advanced to the NCAA Division II Mid-Atlantic Regional title match for the second straight year.

That accounted for FMU’s seventh NCAA Division II national tournament appearance in the past 13 seasons. Head coach Garth Thomson has compiled a 174-141 career coaching record in 15 seasons guiding the Patriot women.

Among the returnees are No. 1 singles player Sarka Vitkova and the No. 1 doubles team of Vitkova and Jenny Ludwig. Vitkova is ranked 24th in the fall singles rankings, while the Vitkova/Ludwig duo occupies the No. 7 position in the doubles ratings.

The Francis Marion men’s squad also returns five letterwinners, including No. 1 singles player Franklyn Emmanuel. The Patriots ended last spring ranked 29th nationally despite an 8-10 mark, with all 10 losses being to nationally ranked opponents. FMU missed the NCAA Tournament for only the second time in the past 13 seasons.

Emmanuel, a senior, is ranked 20th nationally among Division II singles players, while he and freshman Oshada Wijemanne are listed 11th in the doubles ratings.

Thomson has amassed a 217-106 coaching record directing the Patriot men’s team.

Both Francis Marion squads open their 2008 schedules on Feb. 2 at Barton College.