FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – One week after Nova Southeastern University women's tennis player Luicelena Perez was named the top singles player in the south region, the Valencia, Venezuela native has now been ranked as the third-best singles player in all of Division II. Perez was also ranked 10^th in doubles with teammate Isabella Lowrey, as announced by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) on Wednesday. Perez's singles ranking is the second-highest in program history, only behind Klaudia Boczova, who rose to No. 1 in 2016.
 
"This is an awesome accomplishment for LP (Perez)," said head coach Doug Neagle. "She is respected around the conference for her hard work, dedication and sportsmanship. I am proud to have coached her this season. She stepped up for us as the top singles and doubles player. A player like this is very rare to find. Her and Bella (Lowrey) were a great pair in doubles this season, displaying great team chemistry."
 
Perez jumps six spots in the singles rankings since the last national poll on March 22. In the last four weeks, Perez defeated three straight nationally-ranked opponents in then-No. 6 Diana Bogolii of Lynn, No. 18 Dasha Salnikova Barry and No. 32 Sasha Nionova of Florida Southern. At the end of the season, Perez finished with a singles record of 17-0, featuring an unblemished 12-0 record against conference and region opponents.
 
Teamed with Lowrey in doubles, the top pair for the Sharks leaped 13 spots to the No. 10 position after collecting six wins in their last eight matches. Following back-to-back losses, the duo won six straight contests to conclude the year with a 13-4 record, while finishing 7-2 overall in the conference.
 
The Sharks will now turn to the offseason to prepare for the 2017-18 season, set to begin in September.