Jan. 6, 2009

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- The University of South Carolina women's tennis team will start the spring season ranked No. 33 in the nation according to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's first rankings of 2009 released Tuesday.

Individually, Gamecock junior Ana Marija Zubori is ranked 14th in singles, the second highest ranking in school history. The highest belongs to current assistant coach Katarina Petrovic (Markovski) who ascended as high as No. 13 as a sophomore March 29, 2000. Zubori's impressive fall résumé included victories over four players ranked in the top 50 of the preseason fall rankings.

Senior Gira Schofield will begin the spring ranked No. 71 after going 6-3 with wins over three ranked players. Schofield, a three-time All-SEC performer, has been among the national singles rankings every release date since March 2007.

Zubori also snagged a No. 33 ranking in doubles with senior Natasa Vuckovic. The two went 6-1 during the fall season. The ranking marks the highest of Vuckovic's career, surpassing the No. 37 rating she held with Schofield heading into the fall 2006 season. Zubori's career high in doubles is ninth coming in January 2008 with Schofield.

South Carolina gets its season underway Friday, Jan. 16, hosting BYU at 4 p.m. at the USC Indoor Field House.