The good news?

Westlake’s tennis team is ranked No. 4 in the first round of the Texas Tennis Coaches Association poll.

The bad? Top-ranked New Braunfels still stands as a looming hurdle on the Region IV road to the state tournament.

Still, the ranking reveals statewide respect for a Chap team that has started 3-0 and travels to Vista Ridge High School today at 4 p.m.

“It’s a good place to start,” Westlake coach Kim Riley said.

The complete rankings are:

1.            New Braunfels           

2.            Plano West           

3.            Klein           

4.            Westlake           

5.            Abilene High            

6.            El Paso Coronado           

7.            Lubbock Coronado           

8.            Woodlands College Park           

9.            Katy Seven Lakes           

10.            San Angelo Central           

11.            Katy Taylor           

12.            Coppell           

13.            San Antonio Churchill           

14.            Plano            

15.            McKinney Boyd           

16.            Katy Cinco Ranch           

17.            Harlingen South           

18.            Corpus Christie King           

19.            Allen           

20.            The Woodlands           

21.            San Antonio Clark           

22.            Houston Clear Lake           

23.            Georgetown           

24.            Southlake Carroll           

25.            Houston Memorial