ACU tennis teams both in top 12

ACU women check in at No. 7, men at No. 12

ABILENE -- The Abilene Christian University men's and women's tennis teams are both ranked in the top 12 in the nation, according to the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings, which were released Wednesday.

The ACU women -- who last weekend won the Lone Star Conference title and will host the NCAA Division II Central Region Tournament, May 5-6 -- are ranked seventh in the nation.  The ACU men -- who also won the conference title and will host the regional tournament -- are ranked No. 12 in the nation.  The ACU women (29-5) are ranked No. 1 in the Central Region, while the ACU men (20-9) are ranked No. 2 in the region.

On the men's side, senior Artin Tafazoli is ranked No. 19 in the nation and No. 2 in the region in singles.  The doubles team of Jason Ray and Casper Steenkamp is ranked No. 22 in the nation and No. 4 in the region.  Steenkamp is ranked No. 10 in the region in singles.

On the women's side, seniors Rachel Taylor and Summer Beesley are ranked No. 16 in the nation and No. 1 in the region in doubles. Beesley is ranked No. 5 in the region in singles, while Taylor is No. 9 and Ashley Hawk-Caperton is No. 10.  Holly Lindloff and Lana Pavlin are the region's seventh-ranked doubles team.