Jan. 10, 2006

The University of South Carolina women’s tennis team is ranked 22nd in the first Fila Collegiate Tennis Rankings of the season. Carolina finished last season ranked 23rd in the country after posting a 15-9 record and advanced to the Round of 32 in the 2005 NCAA Championships.

USC is returning five of six singles starters from last season and has added two newcomers to this season’s squad. The two newcomers for the Gamecocks are Gira Schofield and Natasa Vuckovic and are both ranked in the preseason singles rankings. Schofield is ranked 59th in the country while Vuckovic is 62nd.

The Gamecocks will start the dual match season on Jan. 25th at 5 p.m. against the College of Charleston in Columbia at the USC Indoor Tennis Facility.