April 16, 2003

Columbia, S.C. – The SEC named Angelo Niculescu and Seth Rose to its all-conference team for their performances during the 2003 season. USC’s duo earned second-team selections, marking the most all-conference honorees for the school in one season since 1999 when three Gamecocks were named All-SEC. USC, up to No. 12 in this week’s poll, is seeded seventh in this weekend’s SEC Championships in Oxford, Miss. The Gamecocks face No. 22 Georgia in Thursday first round match at 6 p.m. EDT.

“It is a pleasure having two seniors who work very hard merritt SEC honors,” said head coach Kent DeMars. “To have both players named to the all-conference team is a real honor, especially with all the extra time they have put in to improving their games. Our team is ranked where we are because of their contributions and the way they have set an example for the rest of the team.”

Niculescu, a senior from Gorj, Romania, posted a 14-8 dual match singles record this season, including a 3-0 ledger at No. 1 and an 11-8 mark at the No. 2 position. He is No. 56 in the nation and led USC with eight victories against ranked opponents and won five SEC matches in addition to combining for 14 doubles victories on the year.

Rose, who earned second-team honors last season, was 13-8 in dual match singles action, including an 11-8 mark at No. 1 and a 2-0 record at No. 2. The senior from West Palm Beach, Fla., is ranked No. 47 in the nation and won four matches against ranked opponents and had four SEC victories while totaling a combined 11 doubles wins.