Gamecocks Selected To Host 2019 ITA Kick-Off Weekend
June 4, 2018
2019 ITA Kick-Off Weekend
COLUMBIA, S.C. — No. 12 South Carolina women’s tennis was selected to host the 2019 ITA Kick-Off Weekend at the Carolina Tennis Center, the ITA announced Monday.
The selection marks the second straight season South Carolina will host ITA Kick-Off Weekend. This past season, the Gamecocks hosted the event for the first time in program history from Jan. 26-27. The Gamecocks defeated Oklahoma, 4-0, and Clemson, 4-1, to advance to the ITA National Indoor Championships for the first time in the event’s current format, which began in 2009.
The Gamecocks’ opponents for the 2019 ITA Kick-Off Weekend will be revealed in the Women’s Draft at 12 p.m. ET on Thursday, via Slam Tennis.
Host sites for the ITA Kick-Off Weekend were determined using the final 2017-18 Oracle ITA Collegiate Tennis Rankings. The Gamecocks’ No. 12 national ranking marks their highest final ranking since the 1999 season when they were ranked at No. 12. It is the second-highest final ranking in program history behind the 1995 season when the team was ranked at No. 11.
The Gamecocks spent 17 straight weeks in the Top 25 from Jan. 3 – May 23, with eight straight weeks in the Top 10 from March 13 – May 3. The team reached a No. 5 ranking on April 3, the highest ranking in program history.
The 2019 event marks the eighth time in program history the Gamecocks will play in the ITA Kick-Off and the second time the team will host the event as the top seed. In all other appearances, the Gamecocks were the No. 2 seed, including appearances in the 2017 Texas Tech Regional, the 2013 Michigan Regional, the 2012 Georgia Tech Regional, the 2011 Miami (Florida) Regional, the 2010 Arkansas Regional and the 2009 Duke Regional.
For updates on the Gamecocks, continue to check back with GamecocksOnline.com or follow the team on social media (@GamecockWTennis).
