Men's Tennis | 2/5/2025 6:27:00 PM
DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University men's tennis senior Hugo Hidalgo Vega made history by being the first Eagle in the Division I era to earn a national ranking in singles by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. He is currently ranked 111th among collegiate competitors.
"The ITA Rankings Algorithm is based on an accumulation of win points and loss points, accounting for a win-loss record, the strength of schedule, and the depth/significance of wins and losses," as stated on ITA's website. "As the season progresses, the value of each win and loss adjusts to reflect the most recent ranking of the opponent."
So far this season, Hidalgo Vega has defeated two of his four opponents in No.1 Singles. His triumph over Duke's Pedro Rodenas who was ranked 38th at the time of the match, helped Hidalgo Vega's case in entering the top 125.
"I'm excited to be the first ranked player in NCCU Division I history," said Hidalgo Vega. "I hope some of my teammates can do the same."
The last Eagle to be ranked was Joe Williams who played for NC Central from 1962-1966. Williams won an NCAA Championship in 1963 and was named to NCCU's Alex M. Rivera Athletics Hall of Fame in 1984.
"I'm very proud of Hu and his recent recognition as a nationally ranked player," said NCCU's director of tennis and men's head coach D. Curtis Lawson. "He is an exceptionally talented player, an outstanding student and a wonderful human being. This year's team is making history in a variety of ways and I believe there is more to come."
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