Longhorns open 2012 in southern California at the annual National Collegiate Tennis Classic
Thursday, 01/12/2012
WHAT: No. 21 Texas opens 2012 with individual singles and doubles matches at the annual National Collegiate Tennis Collegiate Classic, featuring schools such as USC, Stanford and Baylor.
WHEN: Friday, Jan. 13 through Sunday, Jan. 15
WHERE: La Quinta, Calif.
ITA RANKINGS UPDATE
Singles
47. Aeriel Ellis
119. Noel Scott
THE 2011-12 LONGHORNS: Texas returns four regular singles starters from the 2010-11 squad that reached the finals of the Big 12 Championship and the round of 32 at the NCAA Championships.
The Horns are led by junior Aeriel Ellis, who last season became UT's first ITA All-American since 1999. The Californian has qualified to compete in all eight of the previous national championship events contested during her two-plus seasons as a Longhorn. She reached the round of 16 of the singles draw at the 2011 NCAA Championships.
Senior Krista Damico totaled a 21-16 overall singles record last season while playing primarily at No. 2 singles. UT returns a pair of talented sophomores who saw significant time in the dual-match lineup last season. Juliana Gajic totaled a 13-6 dual-match record, primarily at No. 5 singles, and Cierra Gaytan-Leach totaled a 9-3 dual-match record.
Texas opens dual-match play next weekend against Virginia and North Carolina in New York City.
