SKILLMAN, N.J. - The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) ranked the Haverford College women's tennis team 16th in its preseason poll of the Atlantic South Region. The initial regional rankings of the year take into account how squads finished in the fall portion of their schedules.

The Fords, 12-7 overall last season, received many standout performances at the 2013 ITA Southeast Regional hosted by the University of Mary Washington in the latter part of September.

Senior Alex Ferrara and sophomore Robyn Himelstein (pictured) led the way for Haverford as the duo joined forces to claim two wins and advance to the quarterfinals of the championship doubles bracket. Ferrara and Himelstein rolled past Sara Finger and Nina Sanders of Muhlenberg College, 8-1, before taking down Roxy Alban and Natalie Savage of Salisbury University by the identical score. The impressive effort by Ferrara and Himelstein earned the pairing the 12th spot in the ITA's regional ranking of doubles teams.

Returning the 2013 Centennial Conference player of the year in junior Caitlin Gallagher, the Fords will aim for their sixth straight berth in the conference tournament this spring.