The spring college tennis season is just getting underway, and if the rankings leading in are any indication, local teams are ready to make their mark.

It doesn't get any higher than number one, and that's where the Northwestern women are within the NCAA Division I rankings. After finishing their best season ever in 2008, the Wildcat women are primed to continue with sophomore Maria Mosolova as the top-ranked singles player in the nation.

Also in the women's Division I rankings are the University of Illinois women at No. 37, who also have sophomore Leigh Finnigan in the top 100. The Fighting Illini men have garnered a No. 15 team

The Fighting Illini are ranked 15th led by Roy Kalmanovich.

spot and have an impressive four singles players ranked, led by Roy Kalmanovich at No. 23.

While there are no other teams from Illinois ranked in NCAA Division II, other divisions are well-represented. The University of Chicago men are at No. 25 in NCAA Division III, with William Zhang ranked at that same number in singles. The women are up at No. 15, and although individual rankings have not been released, the Maroons’ Jennifer Kung is certainly a leader, having won her division at the ITA National Small College Championships in the fall.

Chicagoland has two schools with individual rankings within the NAIA (team ratings are not released until February). Kathleen Brancato represents the University of Illinois-Springfield Prairie Stars at No. 13. McKendree is a NAIA leader, with Jenny Mennerick sharing top 20 singles and doubles honors with Erin Thoman. (There have been no men's NAIA rankings released currently.)

Though the temperatures may not seem spring-like yet, there will be plenty of hot college tennis in Illinois this season, beginning next weekend on January 16 when the Northwestern women and Illini men host multiple teams for their home openers.

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