Jan. 5, 2016

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina women’s tennis freshmen Paige Cline and Ingrid Gamarra Martins will begin the 2016 season ranked in the ITA Singles Rankings. Cline will start out ranked No. 43, while Martins received a No. 54 ranking.

As a team, the Gamecocks come in ranked at No. 28. It marks the second-consecutive year the Gamecocks have started the season ranked in the top-30 after launching their 2015 campaign ranked No. 23. South Carolina finished ranked No. 29 in the final polls after going 15-11 overall and advancing to the second-round of the NCAA Tournament for the second-consecutive season.

Cline, considered a five-star recruit from Kentfield, Calif., burst onto the scene this fall with an 8-3 record, winning seven of her last eight matches. She went 3-0 at the Kitty Harrison Invitational on her way to being named the No. 2 singles player at the event for her performance.

Martins led the team this fall with a 9-2 mark with only one of her wins going into a third set. A native of Rio de Janiero, Brazil, she played at Club Marapendi under Gamecock Tennis alum Ricardo Acioly.

South Carolina kicks off the 2016 season on Sun., Jan. 17 with a doubleheader at home against South Alabama and Furman. Follow the team on Twitter and Instagram @GamecockWTennis, or visit www.GamecocksOnline.com for updates.