INDIANAPOLIS - A pair of Marian University women's tennis players earned a spot in the ITA NAIA Women-East Regional rankings, the ITA announced last week.

Freshman Paola Usina (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral) and junior Dana Reynolds (Lebanon, Ind./Lebanon) were ranked inside the top 20 of the regional rankings. Usina came in ranked No. 3 in the region, while Reynolds ranks No. 16 in the poll.

In addition, Usina is ranked in the top 15 of the ITA NAIA Women-National rankings. The 2009 ITA MIdwest Regional Champion is ranked No. 15 in the current poll.

Usina finished the fall season as the only undefeated player at No. 1 singles in the Mid-Central College Conference and earned All-Conference honors.

"Paola finished eighth in the nation and her rankings are definitely deserved," said Lomison. "She had a great season this fall, and I am excited to see where she goes from here."

Reynolds was also named to the All-Conference team and earned a trip to the semifinals at the 2009 ITA Midwest Regional Championships.

"I am excited that Dana got ranked in the region," said Lomison. "She has definitely been a bit of a surprise to me this season, but I have known that she has the ability in her. She is becoming the player that I know she can be."

Head coach Cassie Lomison, the 2009 MCC Coach of the Year, led the Knights to a third-place finish in the MCC with an 11-2 overall record and a 6-2 mark in the MCC. The Knights will take the court on March 23 when they head to Indiana Tech for a 4 p.m. first serve.