July 14, 2014

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina’s women’s tennis team has earned multiple awards from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association for academic excellence.

The Gamecocks were named an ITA All-Academic Team for posting at least a cumulative GPA of 3.2 for the 2013-14 academic year. Individually, Caroline Dailey, Brigit Folland, Dominika Kanakova, Elixane Lechemia, Natalie Looney, Alex Martin and Katerina Popova were named ITA Scholar-Athletes for achieving at least a 3.5 GPA for the school year. South Carolina’s seven ITA Scholar-Athletes tied with Alabama for the most among SEC schools.

The women’s tennis team cleaned up on the SEC’s academic awards released last week as well. The team’s eight non-freshmen all took home a place on the Spring SEC Academic Honor Roll for having at least a 3.0 GPA, while freshmen Dailey and Folland appeared on the SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll. The SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll also requires at least a 3.0 GPA.

South Carolina saw much success on the court this past season as well. Second-year head coach Kevin Epley saw his squad post a 17-11 record and a 6-7 mark in the SEC for a tie for sixth place. Carolina advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament while making its 20th consecutive appearance in the event. Lechemia became just the fifth Gamecock to capture All-SEC First Team accolades after posting a 22-10 record in singles and a 21-12 mark for doubles. She ended the season ranked 80th in singles and 29th in doubles, while the Gamecocks posted a season-high No. 26 in the final rankings.