Purizaca Earns Program Best National Ranking

CRETE, Neb. - The International Tennis Association (ITA) released their NAIA individual rankings following the fall season and Doane's Maria Purizaca (Jr./Lima, Peru) earned her way to a Top 15 ranking. Following an 11-2 fall season, Purizaca is ranked No. 14 in the women's individual rankings.

Purizaca reached No. 20 in April 2024 as a freshman at Doane. Last season, was able to work her way up to No. 25 in May 2025. Now, she holds the highest ranking of a Doane tennis player, male or female, in program history.

In three tournaments, Purizaca won the Bethany Invite while taking runner-up honors in the GPAC Tournament and the ITA Regional. In winning the Bethany Invite to open the season, she defeated two NCAA Division II opponents. At the GPAC Tournament, Purizaca went 2-1 with a win over teammate Liz Calderon who is regionally ranked No. 18. Her loss came to Line Jensen, ranked No. 5 nationally in this ranking.

Two weeks later at the ITA Regional, Purizaca went 5-1 as she lost to Jensen for the second time. On her way to the finals, she defeated Rocio Espinal, ranked No. 43 nationally, in the quarterfinals and Daniela Casique, ranked No. 23 nationally, in the semifinals.

Purizaca capped off the fall season with a win over NCAA Division II Sydney Dial of Truman State for her 11th win of the season.