Ayana Akli Set to Join Women's Tennis Team

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Ayana Akli, the 2020 Big Ten Freshman of the Year and a two-year starter for the Maryland Terrapins, has joined the South Carolina women’s tennis team, head coach Kevin Epley announced Thursday. Akli is eligible to play immediately and has three years of eligibility remaining.

“We recruited Ayana as a junior because we saw a tremendous amount of potential in her game and are thrilled that she has chosen South Carolina to further her tennis development,” Epley said. “We really think she is only scratching the surface with her tennis development. She is a very bright young lady with big ambitions, so we will work hard to help her achieve both her individual and team aspirations. I couldn’t be happier that she will be joining the Gamecock family.”

Akli finished this past season with a 15-4 record in singles that included an impressive 14-3 mark at the No. 1 spot. She earned a place on the All-Big Ten Team for the second year in a row and was also named Big Ten Athlete of the Week for the second time in her career in February. Akli ascended up the ITA singles rankings during the season, beginning at No. 89 in January and peaking at a career-high 29th on March 24. She is currently ranked No. 46 and recently advanced to the second round of the NCAA Singles Championship after knocking off undefeated and 36th-ranked North Carolina freshman Fiona Crawley in the first round. Crawley entered the match with a 30-0 record this spring and had lost just three sets all season.

As a freshman in 2019-20, Akli became the first Terrapin in school history to be named Big Ten Freshman of the Year. She finished her freshman year with a 21-3 singles record and went 16-5 in doubles playing exclusively at the No. 1 position in both. Akli posted a team-leading nine dual match victories on court one in her first season as a Terrapin and was ranked as high as No. 71 in the nation in singles.

Prior to joining Maryland, Akli graduated from Wheaton High School in Silver Spring, Md. She was a three-time state champion, four-time team MVP, and the county and divisional champion three straight years.

“Transferring was a very hard decision, but I am so excited to be a part of this team,” Akli said. “The culture here is amazing, the team is like a family, and I can’t wait to start this new chapter. I am ready to bring a lot of positive energy and grow with my new teammates. Let’s go, Gamecocks!”

Akli will continue her studies at South Carolina as a civil and environmental engineering major with the College of Engineering and Computing.