SKILLMAN, N.J. – Monmouth University junior Victor Pugliese (Boulogne, France/CNED/San Diego) was slated 19th in the recent Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Northeast Region Singles Rankings, the organization released late last week.

“This is a great accomplishment for Victor to be ranked in the top-20 in the Northeast Region,” stated Head Coach Cory Hubbard. “The list of players is loaded with players from nationally ranked teams, so it is more than just an individual ranking as it shows our program is really on the rise. I believe Victor has the ability to be a top-10 player in our region and achieve the first national ranking in school history.”

After an opening round bye at the ITA Regionals in October, Pugliese, who entered the tournament seeded 17th in the main draw bracket, downed Princeton's Alex Day, 6-1, 6-5 (7-5), to advance to the third round of the competition. In his next match, the junior transfer edged third-seeded Dragos Ignat of Columbia in the opening set, 6-5, winning the tiebreaker 7-4, but Ignat rallied in the final two sets to win 6-3, 6-4.

Pugliese, who won four of his first five single matches in a Monmouth uniform, enters the spring season with a 6-3 overall record in singles play, while also capturing a pair of doubles victories with partner Freddy Marcinkowski (Sparta, N.J./Sparta).

Monmouth will continue its 2013-14 campaign Sunday, January 26th at noon when it travels to Bethlehem, Pa., for a non-conference tilt with Lehigh in its spring opener.