Women’s Tennis Finishes Third in Carolina Region Rankings

Columbia, S.C. – ­South Carolina women’s tennis completed the 2023-24 season ranked No. 3 in the Carolina Region Rankings as announced by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) on Friday. The team was also represented twice in the singles rankings and has a pair in the doubles rankings.

Highlighting the regional singles rankings for the Gamecocks is All-American Ayana Akli at No. 3. The graduate went 28-11 overall this season with 15 of her wins over ranked opponents. In the fall she finished as the national runner-up at the ITA Fall National Championships and in the spring she went 14-6 in dual matches with an 11-6 mark at the top of the lineup.

Following Akli in the regional rankings is junior Sarah Hamner who finished No. 6. Hamner led the team in singles this season with a 32-9 overall record. She went 18-3 in dual play and set the program record for best single season SEC record at 10-1.

Together, the duo of Akli and Hamner are ranked No. 4 in the region and went 11-10 and 7-5 in dual matches. The pair claimed six wins over ranked opponents this season with their highest over then-No. 8 Aysegul Mert and Dasha Vidmanova of Georgia.

Overall, the womens tennis team went 17-8 this season and 8-5 in SEC play. They defended their home courts with an 11-1 record at home and four wins over top-25 opponents.

For all the latest South Carolina women’s tennis information, continue to follow GamecocksOnline.com or the team on social media (@GamecockWTennis).

ITA Carolina Region Rankings

3 – Team

3 – Ayana Akli (singles)

6 – Sarah Hamner (singles)

4 – Ayana Akli/Sarah Hamner (doubles)