tennJunior Harsh Mankad is ranked number one in the nation in the latest Omni Hotels Collegiate Tennis Rankings. He is the first Golden Gopher men's tennis player to ever sit atop the national rankings.

Mankad, a two-time All-Big Ten selection, is 14-1 on the season with a 10-1 record against ranked players. He missed four matches in January due to a wrist injury but returned last weekend against Ohio State. He defeated No. 20 Phil Metz of the Buckeyes at No. 1 singles.

Last week's number one player, K.J. Hippensteel, was defeated last week by California's John Paul Fruttero as the Bears upset the top-ranked Cardinal 4-3.

Mankad and the 27th-ranked Golden Gophers host Michigan on Friday night at 6:30 p.m. at the 98th Street Racquet Club in Bloomington, Minn.