VALDOSTA, Ga. – Fresh off its third-straight Gulf South Conference title and league-best 17^th overall in program history, the Valdosta State men's tennis team returned to the No. 1 ranking in the latest ITA national poll, announced Wednesday by the ITA.
 
The Blazers (20-0) defeated then-No. 1 West Florida 4-1 last Saturday in the league championship match in Montgomery, Ala., as the Blazers and Argonauts met for the 22^nd time in the championship match in league history.  
 
West Florida is second in the poll this week, followed by Barry, Flagler and Lubbock Christian to round out the top five.  Saint Leo from the South Region is 12^th, followed by Florida Southern (14), Lee (16), Embry-Riddle (22), Mississippi College (25), Rollins (26), among teams in the top 50.  Other teams ranked VSU played this season who currently are ranked include Columbus State (19), and Georgia College (32).
 
In singles, senior Takeshi Taco sits No. 2 nationally with a 21-1 record this year as Phil Exner of Ouachita Baptist (Ark.), who Taco beat in the ITA Fall National Championship, is the top-ranked player, while Blazer senior Boruch Skierkier moved up to No. 3 this week.  Skierkier is 27-3 this year.  Washburn (Kan.) Tim Hammes is fourth and Mississippi College's Alex Benichou Blanchard is fifth.  Blazer senior Edgar Destouet sits 20^th this week at 25-1 overall.
 
For doubles, VSU has two of the top ten tandems in the country first with Taco and senior Xaveam Van Wijk checking in at No. 5 this week.  The duo is 17-3 this year, while Destouet and graduate student Arthur Bord are eighth nationally and have a 19-4 record together this year.
 
The Blazers, who earned the GSC's automatic bid to the NCAA postseason with the conference championship victory, will find out who and where they play on Monday, May 5 at 8 p.m. on the NCAA Division II Men's Tennis Selection Show streamed live on NCAA.com.