TEMPE, Ariz. - For the first time since the program's revival last season, the Northwest women's tennis team has entered the JUCO Collegiate Tennis Rankings, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) announced on Thursday morning.

Northwest is currently ranked No. 21 among NJCAA women's tennis programs, joining seven other MACCC teams in the first regular season poll. Jones College is the highest conference opponent in the rankings, slotted at No. 10 overall, followed by Mississippi Gulf Coast at No. 12, Meridian at 14th, Itawamba at No. 15, Copiah-Lincoln at 16th, Hinds at No. 22 and East Central in 25th.

Cowley (Kan.) tops the rankings at No. 1, followed by Hillsborough (Fla.) at No. 2. Tyler Junior College (Texas), Saint Petersburg (Fla.) and Seward (Kan.) round out the top five in slots 3-5, respectively.

Northwest is off to a 6-3 start to the season, already surpassing last season's win total. The Lady Rangers are also 3-2 in conference play, scoring their most recent win against Southwest Mississippi, a 9-0 shutout.