Lechemia Receives NCAA Singles Championship Bid

April 29, 2015

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Senior Elixane Lechemia from the No. 30 South Carolina women’s tennis team received an at-large bid to the 64-person NCAA Singles Championship on Wednesday evening. The event begins May 20 at Baylor University’s Hurd Tennis Center in Waco, Texas.

Lechemia is currently ranked No. 43 in the nation in singles, the highest billing of her career. She is 14-9 this season and went 11-8 during the spring playing at the No. 1 singles position to include a 6-5 mark in SEC play. Her efforts earned her a place on the All-SEC Second Team to mark her second appearance on an all-conference team in as many years.

This year’s tournament marks Lechemia’s first appearance in the NCAA Singles Championship. Last season, Lechemia played in the 32-team NCAA Doubles Championship alongside 2014 senior Dominika Kanakova. Lechemia will become just the ninth Gamecock to have played in both championship events during her career. The last to do so was Ana Marija Zubori when she competed in the singles and doubles championships in 2009.

With Lechemia’s selection, South Carolina has placed a singles competitor or doubles team in 27 of 34 NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships. Laura Bernstein remains the only Gamecock to advance as far as the round of 16 in singles, doing so in 1983. Anya Morgina was the last player from South Carolina to compete in the singles tournament in 2012 when she reached the second round.

The draws for the singles and doubles tournaments will be determined at a coaches meeting May 19.