First Spring ITA Rankings Released

Jan. 3, 2014

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Intercollegiate Tennis Association released its first spring rankings for the 2014 season Thursday.

The South Carolina women’s tennis team will begin the year ranked No. 33 when they host a doubleheader Jan. 18 at the USC Field House. The Gamecocks face East Tennessee State at 10 a.m. followed by College of Charleston at 4 p.m.

Freshman Brigit Folland also earned a singles ranking to kick off the season, coming in at No. 113. The Bristol, United Kingdom, native posted an 8-5 record in singles and finished 7-4 in doubles. She scored two wins against opponents ranked in the top 50 of the fall rankings, the first coming in the round of 16 at the USTA/ITA Carolina Regional Championships against No. 42 Ester Goldfeld of Duke. She defeated No. 50 Cindy Chala of VCU in the Gamecocks’ final tournament of the fall.

The Gamecocks return five letterwinners from last year’s team that advanced to the program’s 19th consecutive NCAA Tournament. This season’s 10-person squad also features three newcomers and a pair of redshirts from a year ago. The diverse group of young women donning the Garnet and Black this season includes five international talents and five Americans, including three from the Palmetto State.