Temple University Athletics
Nanere and Uchijima Ranked No. 20 in National Doubles Rankings
11.15.23 | Women's Tennis
TEMPE, Ariz. – The Temple women's tennis pair of Samantha Nanere and Maiko Uchijima earned No. 20 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) doubles rankings, as announced by the association on Wednesday morning.
The ITA, which releases official rankings for intercollegiate tennis, ranks the top 125 singles players, along with the top 60 doubles pairs in the country at the conclusion of fall play.
Nanere and Uchijima achieved this ranking after a tremendous fall season run. After pairing for the first time at ITA Super-Regionals, the duo scored a 6-2, 6-2 win against a pair from Cornell in the round of 16, won a 6-3, 4-6, 10-2 quarterfinal match against opponents from Brown and scored a 7-6 (5), 3-6, 10-6 semifinal victory against Yale. Nanere and Uchijima fell to Brown's top pair in the final, but were selected to compete in the doubles draw of the ITA National Fall Championships.
The tandem kept the ball rolling at National Fall Champions with a stellar climb to the Round of 8. Their run on the West Coast included a 7-5, 4-6, 10-5 victory against a pair from the University of Southern California in the Round of 32 and a 6-1, 6-4 win against a tandem from the University of Maryland in the Round of 16, which ultimately led to the duo's advancement to quarterfinals where they fell to Pepperdine. This marked the second straight appearance for Uchijima, who made the quarterfinal round in 2022.
"We are very excited and proud of the girls for achieving such a high ranking," said Head Coach Steve Mauro. "This is the second year in a row that we've been ranked. These are very exciting times for Temple women's tennis."
Nanere and Uchijima will look to resume competition in the spring, opening their 2023 season in January alongside their teammates.
The ITA, which releases official rankings for intercollegiate tennis, ranks the top 125 singles players, along with the top 60 doubles pairs in the country at the conclusion of fall play.
Nanere and Uchijima achieved this ranking after a tremendous fall season run. After pairing for the first time at ITA Super-Regionals, the duo scored a 6-2, 6-2 win against a pair from Cornell in the round of 16, won a 6-3, 4-6, 10-2 quarterfinal match against opponents from Brown and scored a 7-6 (5), 3-6, 10-6 semifinal victory against Yale. Nanere and Uchijima fell to Brown's top pair in the final, but were selected to compete in the doubles draw of the ITA National Fall Championships.
The tandem kept the ball rolling at National Fall Champions with a stellar climb to the Round of 8. Their run on the West Coast included a 7-5, 4-6, 10-5 victory against a pair from the University of Southern California in the Round of 32 and a 6-1, 6-4 win against a tandem from the University of Maryland in the Round of 16, which ultimately led to the duo's advancement to quarterfinals where they fell to Pepperdine. This marked the second straight appearance for Uchijima, who made the quarterfinal round in 2022.
"We are very excited and proud of the girls for achieving such a high ranking," said Head Coach Steve Mauro. "This is the second year in a row that we've been ranked. These are very exciting times for Temple women's tennis."
Nanere and Uchijima will look to resume competition in the spring, opening their 2023 season in January alongside their teammates.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
Tuesday, June 02
Saturday, May 30
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