Cline Earns Highest Ranking at No. 16 in ITA Singles Poll
TEMPE, Ariz. – South Carolina senior Paige Cline earned the highest ranking of her career at No. 16 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s (ITA) singles poll as announced Tuesday afternoon.
Cline’s jump from No. 23, her previous high, comes after she downed two top-20 opponents at the SEC Tournament. First, she prevailed against No. 17 Christina Rosca of Vanderbilt in three sets, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3, in the semifinals. In the title match, Cline defeated Georgia’s No. 19-ranked Marta Gonzalez in straight sets, 6-3, 6-0.
As a team, the Gamecocks moved back up to No. 3, tying the program-best they set on April 2, 2019. Since last week’s rankings, Carolina grabbed three wins over ranked opponents at the SEC Tournament. In the quarterfinals, the then-ranked No. 5 Gamecocks beat No. 24 Florida for the second time in a week, 4-3. Seeing No. 8 Vanderbilt in the semifinals, South Carolina rolled through the Commodores, 4-1. Carolina then defeated No. 1-ranked Georgia, 4-3, claiming the program’s first-ever SEC Championship.
Also in the singles poll, Ingrid Martins stays put at the No. 4 position after tallying three-ranked victories last week. Against Florida, Martins got an easy win against No. 15 Ida Jarlskog, 6-1, 6-2. Then opposite of Vanderbilt’s Georgia Drummy, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2. In the title match, Martins came out on top against No. 1-ranked Katarina Jokic, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, for the highest-ranked win of her collegiate career.
Closing out the Gamecocks in the singles poll, Mia Horvit comes in at No. 86 this week. Horvit notched two wins at the SEC Tournament, first defeating No. 124 Victoria Emma of Florida, 6-0, 6-3. In the finals, Horvit claimed her match, 7-6 (3), 6-3, against Georgia’s Lourdes Carle.
In doubles, Horvit and Martins dropped to the No. 7 spot on the list. Also appearing for Carolina, Megan Davies and Rachel Rohrabacher sit at the No. 39 position.
Continue to check back with gamecocksonline.com for more updates or follow the team on social media (@GamecockWTennis).
