April 12, 2014
DOMINIKA KANAKOVA 5-9 SR-3L FRYDEK-MISTEK, CZECH REPUBLIC
Domi came to the University of South Carolina in fall 2010 from Czech Republic and was an instant contributor for the Gamecocks. She tied for the team lead in dual match singles victories as a freshman while ending the season with doubles rankings with two different partners. She remains the only Gamecock in school history to finish a season with multiple doubles rankings. Also as a freshman, she recorded three wins against doubles teams ranked 15th or better. Last season, she and Jaki Alawi compiled 24 wins together, making them the winningest Carolina duo in a single season in over a decade. Domi and Jaki earned a spot in the NCAA Doubles Championship last year and finished the year ranked 28th. Last year, Domi was also named SEC Player of the Week following matches against Auburn and Alabama. This season, Domi has played the #1 doubles position yet again and is currently ranked 30th with Eli Lechemia. No stranger to success in the classroom as well, Domi has been a member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll each year as a Gamecock. Domi is a double major in finance, and risk management and insurance with a minor in psychology. She will graduate with honors in May with her degrees. |
KATERINA POPOVA 5-6 SR-3L MOSCOW, RUSSIA
Kati joined the Gamecock family in fall 2010 from Russia. Her impact was felt right away as a freshman when she posted 18 wins in singles and 19 in doubles. She had an outstanding sophomore campaign by posting a 22-12 record for singles that included a 16-7 mark in duals that led the team. Kati also put together 21 wins in doubles that season. Last year, she earned a place on the All-SEC Second Team and was named the Gamecocks’ team MVP following a season that saw her win 20 matches in both singles and doubles for the second straight year. Her 16-3 dual match record in doubles with Josefin Andersson gave the tandem the highest winning percentage for a duo in a single season since 1990. This season, she is currently the highest ranked Gamecock in singles at #90 and she is 76th in doubles with Meghan Blevins. For her career, Kati has won over 150 combined singles and doubles matches, which places her among the top 10 in school history. She also ranks in the top 10 for career SEC singles and doubles victories. Like her classmate Domi, Kati has been a member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll each year at Carolina. Kati is a double major in international business and economics with a minor in Chinese. She will graduate with honors in December with her degrees. |