Gamecocks to Host ITA Kick-Off Weekend for the First Time in Program History

June 7, 2017

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) recently announced South Carolina as one of the 15 host sites for the 2018 ITA Kick-Off Weekend, marking the first time the Gamecocks have hosted the event in its history. South Carolina will be joined by University of Southern California, Clemson and Oklahoma.

As the host, the 15th-ranked South Carolina women’s tennis team garnered the top seed in the region, while No 27 USC, #31 Clemson and No. 47 Oklahoma round out the seeding for the competition. The matches, set to occur at the Carolina Tennis Center, are scheduled to take place January 26-29, 2018. The winner of each campus site advances to the 2018 ITA National Team Indoor Championships February 9-12 and will be hosted by the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin.

The Gamecocks fell to then No. 21 Arizona St., 4-3, in the First Round of the 2017 ITA Kick Off Weekend before defeating UC Santa Barbara 4-1 in the second round consolation match.

The Gamecocks finished the 2016-17 season with a 20-9 overall record and a 9-3 record in the SEC. South Carolina advanced to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament, for the first time since 2009 and finished with a final ranking of No. 15, the highest final ranking in program history since the 1998-99 team finished No. 12. Freshman Mia Horvit advanced the Round of 16 in the NCAA Individuals tournament, becoming the first freshman and second Gamecock to earn All-America honors.

For more information on South Carolina women’s tennis, follow the team on Twitter and Instagram at gamecockwtennis, or visit GamecocksOnline.com for updates.