Four Sun Devils honored in preseason ITA rankings

Four Arizona State women’s tennis players were ranked in the 2010 Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s (ITA) preseason rankings, released Sept. 10.

Leading the Sun Devils is senior All-American Micaela Hein, who is ranked 32nd in the nation by the ITA.  Last season, Hein qualified for the NCAA Singles Championships making it to the second round of competition. Hein competed as ASU’s No. 1 player for the second-half of the season.

Also receiving accolades from the ITA is senior Kelcy McKenna, who is ranked 54th in the nation in the preseason rankings. McKenna earned honor mention honors from the Pac-10 last season, holding a singles record of 24-12 and 13-6 in match play.

Along with Hein and McKenna, sophomore Hannah James is ranked 99th in ITA’s preseason rankings. James, who came to ASU from Great Britain last January, went 12-12 in singles overall last season, with a 10-8 record in dual matches.

In the ITA preseason newcomer singles rankings, freshman Jacqueline Cako is ranked third. Cako will make her debut for the Sun Devils this season after joining from Brier, Wash.

For doubles play, ITA has ranked the duo of Hein and Cako at 51st. Hein reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championships in 2009 with McKenna as her partner.

ASU will kick off the 2010 season at the Cal Nike Invitational in Berkeley, Calif., Sept. 24-26.