TEMPE, Ariz. – Portland fifth-year seniors Sema Pankin and Eleftherios Neos are ranked No. 10 nationally in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Preseason Doubles Rankings, presented by Tennis-Point, the ITA announced on Tuesday. Pankin will also open the season ranked in singles coming in at No. 120.
 
"Lefty and Sema's preseason ranking is a really nice feather in the cap for our program," Portland head coach Aaron Gross said. "I don't think we've had a team ranked in the top 10 in doubles before, but the reality in tennis is that ranking is based on what they've done in the past."

Pankin and Neos were ranked as high as No. 24 nationally last spring and finished the season at No. 32. The duo earned All-West Coast Conference First Team honors after finishing with a 20-5 overall record including three victories against ranked opponents.

Pankin also garnered All-WCC First Team singles recognition while posting an 18-9 overall record and 13-5 dual record at No. 1 singles. The WCC Freshman of the Year in 2019, Pankin also earned All-WCC First Team honors in 2021.


"As for Sema's singles ranking, I believe that he is severely under-ranked. I know preseason rankings are generally based on where players ended last season, but with the work that he has done over the summer and what he has shown throughout his career, I think he is probably a top 50 player in the nation. Now he just has to go out and prove it."

Portland's first scheduled fall event is the Battle in the Bay Classic on Sept. 23-25 in San Francisco, Calif. Pankin and Neos will also await the announcement of the field for the ITA All-American Championships this week which is scheduled for Oct. 1-9 in Tulsa, Okla.