Jan. 8, 2008

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The University of South Carolina men’s tennis team is ranked 56th in the ITA preseason rankings that were released on Tuesday. Additionally, sophomore Pedro Campos is ranked 74th in singles.

Campos compiled a 5-5 record during the fall season, facing some of the strongest opponents from around the country. Campos kicked off the fall campaign with an impressive showing at the 40th Annual Southern Intercollegiate Championships, hosted by defending national champion, Georgia, Sept. 21-23. Campos won three straight matches before an injury forced him to withdraw from his final match of the weekend. Campos defeated Georgia Tech’s Guillermo Gomez, 6-3, 2-6, 4-6, in the tournament’s opening round, followed by victories over Jeff Dadamo of Florida (7-5, 6-2) and the tournament’s third seed, Marek Sramek of South Alabama, 4-6, 5-3 (injury retired).

Campos made a healthy return at South Carolina’s home tournament, defeating Scott Robertson of Jacksonville State, 6-2, 6-4, in opening-round action. Campos fell to Dmitry Lebedev of Arkansas-Fayetteville, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3, the following round. After a tough outing at the ITA Indoor Regionals, Campos captured his final win of the fall campaign against Benjamin Chomette (TU), 7-6, 6-2, at the Auburn Invitational in mid-November.

The Gamecocks kick off their spring season at the SEC Indoor Championships, Jan. 18-21, in New Orleans, La.