DENVER – The MSU Denver men's and women's tennis teams are set to play their first duals as ranked teams this season.
 
Both Roadrunners teams cracked the computerized Intercollegiate Tennis Association ratings at No. 36 in their respective Division II rankings this week.
 
They'll begin putting those ratings on the line as the women play host to Fort Hays State (Kan.) at 11 a.m. Sunday.nThen both teams play Division III St. Thomas (Texas) at 2 p.m. Monday. All three duals will be at the Assembly Athletic Complex.
 
"I expected the guys to have a shot to be pretty highly ranked after beating (then-No. 16) Northwest Missouri State, but I wasn't sure because we had a couple losses in duals I thought we probably should've won," MSU Denver coach Josh Graetz said. "So maybe evened it out. I was a little surprised the ladies were ranked, but we had a good fall and those 4-3 wins matter."
 
No MSU Denver individuals are ranked, but the doubles teams of Isabel Heras and Kinsey Fields (women) and David Kijak and Juho Kantola (men) are Nos. 17 and 28 in their respective classes.
 
The MSU Denver men are 6-3 overall, while the women are 6-4.
 
One of the wins for the women's team was a 7-0 decision over Fort Hays State in September. The Tigers are 5-5 heading into a Saturday dual at CSU Pueblo.
 
"Winning is hard, so can't take anyone lightly," Graetz said. "They're pretty tough, especially at the top of the lineup, so we'll have to be ready to go. It'll be nice to play on our courts this time (the September dual was in Pueblo), and it'll be nice to have our first outdoor match of the spring.
 
"We're excited to compete and have some home fans come out."
 
St. Thomas competes in the same Division III conference as Colorado College, and will head to Denver after playing league duals in Colorado Springs on Sunday.