Akli, Hamner Set Sights on Stillwater with Bid to NCAA Singles & Doubles Tournaments

Columbia, S.C. – ­Ayana Akli and Sarah Hamner of the South Carolina women’s tennis team will represent the program at the year’s NCAA Singles and Doubles Championship after being earning at-large bids.

The duo will pair up in the doubles tournament for the second consecutive season. In 2023 they entered the draw as alternates, earning a spot in the tournament and then making a run to the quarterfinals to finish as All-Americans.

Akli’s bid to the singles tournament is the fourth of her career and second time she has entered as a seeded entry as a No. 9-16 seed. The Silver Spring, Maryland, native was also a No. 9-16 seed in 2023 where she made a run to the quarterfinals, the furthest a Gamecock has ever advanced.

Hamner is also familiar with the NCAA Singles Tournament with this marking her third appearance at the event in her three-year career. During her first appearance at the tournament in 2022, Hamner advanced to the Round of 32.

The 64-player singles event and the 32-team doubles event will be held in Stillwater, Okla., with singles beginning on May 20 and doubles beginning on May 21.

The singles and doubles tournaments will begin after the conclusion of the team tournament. The Gamecocks also earned an at-large bid to the team tournament and will face Old Dominion in the first round on May 4 in Raleigh, N.C.

For all the latest South Carolina women’s tennis information, continue to follow GamecocksOnline.com or the team on social media (@GamecockWTennis).