ARKADELPHIA, Ark. - After a 6-0 start to begin the 2016 season, the Ouachita Tigers men's tennis team climbed to 13th in the Oracle/ITA Collegiate Tennis rankings. The Tigers are the highest ranked team in the Great American Conference and the only GAC school to crack the Top 20 to start the year.

Wins over ranked St. Mary's and Southwest Baptist attributed to the Tigers rise in the polls. Although pleased with the start, head coach Craig Ward will work to keep his team focused on what lies ahead for the Tigers.

"It's always nice when your efforts are rewarded," coach Ward said. "However, rankings are a measure of what has been done in the past and we don't want to let them distract us from the hard work we have put in to get to this point. Theres a lot of tennis left to be played but its always a good feeling to go up in the rankings."

Ouachita's biggest test of the season will come this Thursday, March 3, when the Tigers face #12 Midwestern State in Wichita Falls, Texas. For a look at the complete rankings, click here.