The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) released its Division III men's rankings today, with Southwestern finishing the season as the No. 10-ranked team in the country. 

Southwestern finished the season with a 15-3 record, earning the program's first NCAA Tournament bid, where the team advanced to the Sweet 16. With the ITA announcement, the Pirates break into the top 10 for the first time in program history. Their previous highest ranking was No. 23, earned at the end of last year's pandemic-shortened season. 

"Being a Top 10 team is a true honor and testament to the buy-in from our guys," Head Men's Tennis Coach Billy Porter says. "We graduated our most successful class in 2020, finishing at No. 23. For us to graduate who we did and finish a year later at No. 10 is nothing less than incredible." 

In addition to the team ranking, the ITA ranked Southwestern's Hunter Bajoit the No. 17 singles player in the nation. By finishing in the top 20, Bajoit becomes the second All-American in program history. Former teammate Alexis Dimanche was the first player to earn All-American status after picking up a win in the NCAA Tournament.

Bajoit posted a 12-2 record this season, including a perfect 11-0 from No. 2 singles, earning the SCAC Co-Player of the Year Award and qualifying for the NCAA Tournament. 

"Hunter had a great season, and I am thrilled to see him become the highest-ranked player in program history," Porter says. "He's worked extremely hard becoming a true student of the game. The All-American status he earned for being in the Top 20 is very deserving and has truly emerged into being a true No. 1 player for us."

Southwestern first broke into the ITA National Rankings in 2017 at No. 39 and has maintained a Top 40 ranking ever since. In eight years coaching at Southwestern, Porter has compiled a 112-42 record.