Dmitry Babenko Class: Senior Hometown: Moscow, Russia High School: Kursk Municipal Height / Weight: 6-3 / 195

Coach DeMars on Babenko -- "Dima has has much potential as anyone on the team. His groundstrokes are solid and he has very accurate passing shots. He is imposing at 6' 5" and when he comes to net he has very solid volleys."

As a sophomore: Joined the team in January of 2005 and won 12 of his first 14 singles matches as a Gamecock, including a dramatic three-set win over Marius Adamski of Wake Forest to clinch USC's upset of the then-No. 25 Demon Deacons in Columbia on March 22.

At Auburn-Montgomery: 2004 NAIA National Champion.

Junior Tennis: Consistently ranked in the Russian Top 10 for his age group throughout junior tennis...Top 16 in Europe for Under-16 boys...Won a number of tournaments in Russia and in Germany while playing there.

Personal: Born June 5, 1985 in Kursk, Russia...Nickname is "Dima"...Chose USC over Clemson, Tulane, and Rollins...Graduated from Gymnasium 44 in Kursk in 2002...Son of Serguei and Tatyana Babenko.^TMTM