FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  With the release of the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings on Wednesday, the Methodist men's tennis team has cracked the Top–75 for the first time this season, coming in at No. 72. Methodist joins North Carolina Wesleyan University as one of just two USA South Athletic Conference institutions to appear in the national Division III team rankings.
 
In the previous rankings that were released on April 9, USA South member Brevard College was ranked No. 71. The Monarchs traveled to Brevard last Saturday, upending the Tornados in a 7–0 sweep.
 
This season, the Monarchs have accumulated 11 wins — the most in a regular season since 2019 when the team amassed 12 wins prior to the conference tournament. The squad's five wins against conference opponents are also the most since 2019, when the Monarchs went 6–2 in the USA South.
 
Methodist is led by Scott Handback, who has ascended the program to national relevancy in just his second season at the helm. He's assisted by Brett Karpman — who has made an immediate impact since joining the staff in the Fall of 2024 — as well as James Wright.
 
Leading the team on the court, Matthew Hurley boasts a 16–1 record in singles action this Spring, dominating at the No. 1 spot. His lone loss came on Feb. 23 against an opponent from Salisbury University. At the time, Salisbury carried a ranking of No. 32 nationally, but the Sea Gulls now sit at No. 25 in the ITA rankings.
 
Hurley most recently defeated an opponent from the North Carolina Wesleyan team that ranks No. 34 in the ITA standings.
 
The Monarchs have one final regular–season match on Monday, April 21, when they take on Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte at 3 p.m.