DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle women's tennis team has worked its way into the Top 40 in NCAA II according to the ITA/NCAA II poll released by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association on Thursday. The second computerized poll of the 2021-22 season has the Eagles in at the No. 37 spot.
 
Leading the charge for the Blue and Gold is senior Itxaso Blanco who became the first ERAU women's tennis player to achieve an NCAA II Top 20 ranking. The Bilbao, Spain native jumped 23 spots to No. 14 in singles in this week's poll. Blanco has played all but one match at the top spot in the Eagle lineup and owns an 11-1 dual match record on the year.
 
As a team, the Eagles are 9-5 overall and have won each of their last six contests including a defeat of No. 16 Augustana.
 
The rankings feature five Sunshine State Conference teams listed among the Top 20, including Barry (1), Nova Southeastern (3), Saint Leo (5), Tampa (17) and Lynn (20).
 
The Eagles' next match will be at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday against Montevallo at the Crotty Tennis Complex.