After a perfect 8-0 start to the 2013 season, the St. Catherine University tennis team is finally getting the recognition it deserves as it was ranked No. 6 in the first Central Region rankings of the spring released by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA). 

The Wildcats' No. 6 ITA regional ranking is the highest by any of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) teams in a region with Division III institutions from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. 

Thanks to impressive wins over Carleton College and Gustavus Adolphus College, the Wildcats have earned a spot in the region's top-20 and have sole possession of first-place in the MIAC women's tennis standings with a 5-0 conference record. 

The Wildcats are one of four MIAC teams in the Central Region rankings. Last year's MIAC champion Carleton is just behind St. Catherine at No. 7 after the Wildcats stole a 5-4 victory from the Knights on Feb. 24. The Wildcats defeated Gustavus for the first time in program history on March 9, and the Gusties are now ranked No. 10. 

The University of St. Thomas snuck into the final spot (No. 20) to round out the MIAC representatives in the regional rankings. The Wildcats have yet to face the Tommies - the final ranked opponent from the Central Region left on the schedule. The two teams will meet in a month on Friday, April 19 at St. Catherine.

After a week off of competition, the ranked Wildcats will take on Saint Mary's University on Friday in Winona, Minn., at 6 p.m., before heading to Texas for three matches against ranked opponents from the West Region including the University of Texas at Dallas (No. 15), the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (No. 19) and Southwestern University (No. 20).

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