Hamner Breaks Record as Gamecocks Receive Top ITA Rankings

COLUMBIA, S.C. – A combined four Gamecocks received ITA singles and doubles rankings following the fall season the ITA announced Wednesday. Freshman Sarah Hamner led South Carolina with a No. 2 singles ranking, the highest in program history. Additionally, Ayana Akli is ranked No. 28 in singles, Megan Davies received a singles ranking of No. 118, and doubles pair Davies and Allie Gretkowski is ranked No. 37.
 
Hamner’s No. 2 ranking comes after an explosive fall season from the newcomer. The ITA All-American National Champion boasted a 17-2 singles record and a 13-2 record against nationally ranked opponents. Hamner, the first national champion in program history, breaks yet another program record and tops Ingrid Gamarra Martins’ No. 4 ranking in the 2018-19 season.
 
Junior Akli came in at No. 28, moving up one spot from her ITA preseason ranking. Akli had a productive fall by going 13-8 in singles and finished as the runner-up at the ITA Carolina Regionals. Her position at No. 28 marks the highest ranking of her collegiate career. 
 
Davies took down two ranked players this fall, including an upset over the then-No. 21 singles player. She notably went 2-1 in the Gamecock Shootout and picked up two additional wins this fall. Davies currently has 82 career singles wins, is tied seventh in program history with 81 career doubles wins and has 163 career combined wins at South Carolina. She is on track to break into the top 10 in the record books for career singles wins and career combined wins.
 
In doubles, Davies and Gretkowski went undefeated in the Gamecock Shootout and took down the then-No. 31 team earlier in the fall. The pair’s new rank also moves up from their preseason ranking at No. 40. 
 
South Carolina will begin its spring season after the winter break. For schedule updates, continue to check online at GamecocksOnline.com/sports/womens-tennis and on the team social media accounts.