Matt Kuhar becomes first nationally-ranked player in tennis history

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Bryant University men's tennis redshirt junior Matt Kuhar (Smithfield, R.I.) made history on Wednesday as he became the first tennis player in program history to earn an ITA national ranking.

Kuhar, the two-time Northeast Conference Player of the Year, is ranked No. 121 in the country in the most recent ITA rankings announced on May 30. The top 125 players in the country are listed.

"We are so proud of the work put in by Matt and his teammates this season," head coach Ron Gendron said. "This is a great way to finish off the strongest season in Bryant tennis history. We are looking forward to putting in a lot of work this summer and getting ready to repeat as conference champions."

The national ranking comes after Kuhar put together the greatest season for a tennis player in program history. He went 26-8 overall and 20-4 at No. 1 singles this spring on his way to NEC Player of the Year honors and ITA Northeast Most Improved Senior honors.

Kuhar's record was only half the story, however. On the year, Kuhar faced six players currently ranked in the top 125 in the country. He earned a win over Cal's Billy Griffith, the 41st ranked player in the country and was up a set on the No. 66 player in the country, Oklahoma's Ferran Calvo.