Sept. 5, 2008

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - A pair of University of Tennessee women's tennis players will start the season ranked among the nation's best, as Caitlin Whoriskey was tabbed the No. 37 singles player and Whoriskey and Maria Sorbello were rated as the No. 33 doubles tandem in the preseason Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) rankings, released Thursday evening.

Last season, Whoriskey held down the top spot in the Lady Vol lineup, amassing a 16-9 overall record. The junior from East Sandwich, Mass., put together a 12-6 mark in dual-match play, was 4-3 in tournament action and accumulated five of UT's eight singles victories over ranked opponents last year.

Despite the fact that Whoriskey and Sorbello have never teamed up in competition, the duo will head into the 2008 fall season ranked No. 33 in the nation. Last season, Whoriskey compiled an impressive 25-13 doubles record with fellow classmate Zsófia Zubor, including seven victories in as many days en route to winning the doubles title at the prestigious Riviera/ITA All-American Championships. A native of Mackay, Australia, Sorbello, meanwhile, will don the Orange and White for the first time in 2008 after serving a year of residency and redshirting last year at Rocky Top.

The Big Orange will open the fall portion of its 2008 schedule Sept. 19-21, when it travels to Charlottesville, Va., to compete in the University of Virginia Invitational. The following week, Tennessee will hit the road once again to take part in the Furman Fall Classic in Greeneville, S.C., from Sept. 27-30.