May 2, 2002

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The 13th-ranked University of South Carolina women’s tennis team, finalists in the SEC Tournament two weeks ago, looks to continue their postseason magic next weekend when they will face Hampton in the first round of the 2002 NCAA Tournament Saturday, May 11 in Columbia at the Maxcy Gregg Tennis Center, as announced by the NCAA Women’s Tennis Tournament Committee Thursday night from NCAA Headquarters in Indianapolis.

USC is hosting a regional for the first time since the 1999 season. Next Saturday’s meeting between USC and Hampton will be the first ever match-up between the two schools.

Additional information regarding the Columbia, S.C., first and second round regional to be held May 11 and 12, including match times, will be released Friday by the University of South Carolina.

The Gamecocks (16-7), under the direction of 19th-year head coach Arlo Elkins, extend their NCAA Tournament appearances streak to eight, the longest ever streak for any women’s team at USC. For the four-person 2002 senior class, it marks another milestone – they become just the third USC women’s tennis class to advance to the NCAA Tournament in each of their four seasons. USC is making its 12th all-time NCAA Tournament appearance. The Gamecocks are an even 11-11 in the postseason classic. Carolina has advanced to the Round of 16 six times previously, most recently in 1999, the first year the tournament field featured 64 teams.

In the individual tournament, USC had two singles players selected for the 64-person field. Gamecock seniors Jennifer Radman and Katarina Markovski will play in the individual tournament beginning May 20 at Stanford University.

The USC doubles team of Jennifer Radman and Kathy Boyanovich, ranked 18th in the nation, were selected for the 32-team doubles tournament.