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Sept. 5, 2008

FRESNO, Calif. --- With the Fall Tennis season right around the corner, the Fresno State women's team has visions of greatness for the upcoming year. The ITA preseason singles and doubles rankings reflect the expectations the Bulldogs have for themselves.

The rankings were released Thursday and feature the Bulldog duo of Melanie Gloria and Tinesta Rowe at the nation's No. 1 spot in doubles. Fresno State also has another doubles team in the rankings with Anastasia Petukhova and Renata Kucerkova debuting at No. 8.

Gloria and Rowe reached the final of the NCAA tournament in doubles last season, while Petukhova and Kucerkova reached the semi-final. All four earned first-team All-American honors.

Fresno State is also represented very well in the singles rankings with Gloria at No. 12, Petukhova at No. 16, and Rowe at No. 86.

"The preseason ranking reflects the accomplishments of our previous year," Head Coach Simon Thibodeau said. "Melanie and Tinesta are very deserving of the No. 1 ranking, and I am excited we have two doubles teams in the top eight."

Gloria, a three-time WAC player of the year, and an NCAA All-American in both singles and doubles, will enter the fall season determined to prove herself worthy of the No. 1 ranking in doubles and No. 12 ranking in singles. Gloria compiled 29 wins in singles and 37 wins in doubles both at the No. 1 position last year.

Petukhova, who was also an NCAA All-American in both singles and doubles last season, won a total of 41 singles matches and 42 doubles matches during the 2007-08 season.

"In singles, Melanie and Anastasia are deserving of their 12 and 16 spots, and they have room to improve," Thibodeau said. "At No. 86, Tinesta will strive to finish strong in her senior year, and even though Kucerkova did not make the preseason rankings, she is very dangerous and will play many ranked players during the fall to try and break in."

"Join the State - Fresno State!"

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