Gamecocks Rank 15th in Preseason Oracle ITA National Polls

Jan. 3, 2018

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina women’s tennis team is ranked No. 15 in the latest Oracle ITA Collegiate Tennis Division I National rankings, it was announced Wednesday.

Following a trip to the NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen and a 20-9 (8-5 SEC) team record last season, the Gamecocks finished the year ranked 15th, the highest ranking since the 1998-99 team finished 12th. The Gamecocks opened the 2016-17 season ranked 16th in the preseason Oracle ITA poll.

The Gamecocks are among eight other SEC schools in the Oracle ITA Collegiate Tennis Division I National rankings, including Vanderbilt (2), Florida (3), Georgia (4), Auburn (14), Arkansas (18), Kentucky (21), LSU (22) and Ole Miss (23).

Coming off a successful fall campaign, the Gamecocks will kick off their 2018 spring slate by participating in the Florida Gulf Coast Invitational in Fort Myers, Fla. from Jan. 13-15. The Gamecocks begin match play at 5 p.m. at UCF on Jan. 19.

Head coach Kevin Epley, who is his sixth season with the program, said he is looking forward to getting the spring season underway.

“It’s nice to see us in the rankings,” Epley said. “While we are happy to be among the top teams, the rankings at this point are based on last year’s results and we are entirely focused on the future right now.”

For more information on the Gamecocks, continue to check back with GamecocksOnline.com or follow along on social media (@GamecockWTennis).