GILBERT, Arizona – Ouachita's Phil Exner has taken over as the new No. 1 ranked men's tennis singles player in the nation.

Exner had been ranked No. 2 for the first three sets of rankings for the 2024-25 season. He jumps Valdosta State's Takeshi Taco, who had been No. 1 all season after leading the Blazers to the national championship last year and winning the ITA Cup in singles this past fall.

Entering the last half of the spring season, Exner has totaled a 17-4 singles record in matchups counted by the ITA. His record is 25-4 overall this season, including all fall tournament play. This spring, he is 9-2 at the No. 1 line.

Also representing the Tigers in the national rankings in Ramon Strassmann, who checks in at No. 55 in singles this week. Strassmann and Exner moved up four spots to No. 2 in doubles. The tandem of Yarin Aebi and Elias Lagger are ranked No. 32 in doubles.

As a team, the Tigers come in at No. 44 this week. Ouachita hits the road this weekend for a trip to South Carolina to take on a pair of NCAA Division II teams. The Tigers will make a stop in Livingston, Alabama on the way to take on West Alabama this Saturday, March 22.