Univ. of Southern California Team Page
SEPT. 11
Trojan Tennis Holds High Rankings For 2012-13
USC men and women are starting the season with career-high rankings in the books.
Look out world, USC tennis is looming large on both sides of the game once again. Four-time defending NCAA champions, the USC men have four players starting 2012-13 ranked in the top-100 in singles, and one ranked doubles pair. The USC women, who reached the NCAA semifinals last season, have packed the top of the rankings with three singles players in the nation's top-11, and three doubles teams in the top-50. That includes power couple Kaitlyn Christian and Sabrina Santamaria, who are out of the gates in 2012 as the nation's top-ranked women's doubles team.
In the men's realm, USC junior Ray Sarmiento leads the pack at No. 9 in the singles standings -- his highest career singles rank to date. A two-time All-American, Sarmiento has three teammates also ranked for the start of the 2012-13 campaign as the Trojans go in pursuit of a fifth straight NCAA team title. Fellow junior Emilio Gomez also opens at his career best, ranked No. 23. Sophomores Yannick Hanfmann and Roberto Quiroz, too, both set the bar high for 2012-13, as Hanfmann ranks No. 25, and Quiroz at No. 85. On the doubles scene, Sarmiento and Quiroz are paired up at No. 12 in the nation.
In the women's game, the Women of Troy are a force as well. Three singles players and three doubles duos are on the list. In singles, sophomores Zoë Scandalis and Sabrina Santamaria have also made their marks with their highest ranks to date. All-Americans both, Scandalis sits at No. 7 in the land, and Santamaria is No. 8. Senior Danielle Lao -- also boasting All-American status -- is close behind at No. 11.
With 2011 ITA National Indoor Doubles Champions Christian and Santamaria back for more and weighing in at No. 1 in the doubles scene for 2012-13, the Trojans also have a fresh pairing of Scandalis and freshman Ellie Yates on the board at No. 49, followed by a veteran tandem of seniors Lao and Valeria Pulido at No. 49.
The USC women are already in the books as winners in the early goings of the 2012-13 season. The Women of Troy visited Syracuse last week for action played in dual-match format, but recorded only as individual results. All the winnings went to the Women of Troy on the trip, as they hauled in three doubles wins and six singles victories against the Orange.
FOR FULL RANKINGS, VISIT http://www.itatennis.com/AwardsAndRankings/Rankings.htm
2012-13 CAMPBELL/ITA PRESEASON RANKINGS
MEN'S SINGLES
#9 Ray Sarmiento
#23 Emilio Gomez
#25 Yannick Hanfmann
#85 Roberto Quiroz
MEN'S DOUBLES
#12 Ray Sarmiento / Roberto Quiroz
WOMEN'S SINGLES
#7 Zoë Scandalis
#8 Sabrina Santamaria
#11 Danielle Lao
WOMEN'S DOUBLES
#1 Kaitlyn Christian / Sabrina Santamaria
#48 Zoë Scandalis / Ellie Yates
#49 Danielle Lao / Valeria Pulido
