The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1190316
JANUARY 2020 ■ 75 "I definitely think when you have had third- or fourth-year players you should be a better team, and we hadn't had that earlier on — which was not possible to have that," Earnshaw noted. "We hoped that we were able to recruit players and have those play- ers show large improvement. I think we've done that." Led by a pair of decorated seniors in Rogers and Adriana Reami, NC State has a chance of repeating many of those suc- cesses. Reami's nine wins in the fall tied her with Amanda Rebol for the most sin- gles victories in program history (89), a record she's sure to shatter in the spring. The Nov. 13 Oracle/ITA Division I rank- ings had Rogers ranked No. 18 nationally and Reami No. 23. "These were not recruits that were top- 25 recruits in their class, but now they are top 25 as players," Earnshaw said. "I think their growth is particularly what our pro- gram is and has been about. "I think they represented NC State amaz- ingly well when you think about who they are up against now and where this program is compared to when they made the deci- sion to come to NC State. We were, for the lack of a better word, nowhere at that point except for being in the ACC." Smith is the next rising star in the pro- gram, ranked No. 31 nationally in singles in the fall. "I think she was clearly one of the best freshman in the league and proved that her freshman year, if not in the nation," Earn- shaw said. "I think you have already seen her come along this fall. She has been more consistent this fall. … Alana is right there with Anna and Adrianna. Cardinal International Trucks 1526 South Blount Street, Raleigh, NC 27603 (919) 832-5871 www.cardinalinternationaltrucks.com Noting The Pack • In most sports, a five-star is considered the elite level of recruit, but in college tennis it is "blue chip." NC State signed a blue chip this fall. Abigail Rencheli from Sarasota, Fla., inked with NC State in November. She has been ranked as high as No. 7 nationally and is currently ninth in the 2020 class. "Abigail is someone we had been watching for a long time," head coach Simon Earnshaw stated. "Even from a distance, you could see how hard she always competes and the level of expectation she has for herself." • Earnshaw said this fall was the toughest slate he has scheduled, and the schedule in January will also test his squad early. On Jan. 18, the Pack will host South Carolina, which finished last year No. 5 in the ITA rankings. On Jan. 31, NC State will face Texas in Atlanta. The Longhorns finished No. 9 a year ago. Two days after that the Pack will host Kansas, which concluded the 2019-20 year at No. 13. One of the last tune-ups before ACC play will be at Texas Tech Feb. 15. The Red Raiders finished No. 29 nationally last year.