July 30, 2007

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The USC Upstate women's tennis team capped the most successful season in program history with a No. 7 ranking in the final ITA Top 40 poll released by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.

The No. 7 ranking is the highest final ranking achieved by Upstate women's tennis. The Spartans finished the 2006 season with a No. 8 ranking, which was the previous high final ranking in program history.

Upstate had a tremendous season in 2007. The Spartans finished the year with a 21-6 record and finished second in the regular season Peach Belt standings to national runner-up Armstrong Atlantic State. Upstate advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the third straight year and the fourth time in five seasons. However, this season was also a first for the Spartans as the team claimed a pair of victories in the Mid-Atlantic Regional held at Columbus State to advance to the NCAA Nationals for the first time in program history.

The 2007 season was also a solid season for Spartan individuals. Anna Novo finished the year ranked No. 11 in the nation in singles. The No. 11 final ranking is the highest final individual ranking in program history. Novo finished the season with a 22-4 record playing at the No. 1 singles position for the Spartans. Susana Hernandez joined Novo in the final individual singles rankings, coming in at No. 31. She finished the 2007 season with a 19-5 record at No. 2 singles. Hernandez and doubles partner Daniela Lovera also claimed a No. 16 final doubles ranking after finishing the season with a 21-5 record. The two were 19-3 at No. 2 doubles and 2-2 at the No. 1 position.

BYU-Hawaii won the national championship and finished the season ranked No. 1 in the final poll. Upstate was one of seven Peach Belt Conference schools ranked in the final Top 40 poll. Armstrong Atlantic State came in second in the poll and was followed by Upstate (7th), Columbus State (9th), Clayton State (15th), Francis Marion (16th), Georgia College & State University (17th), and Augusta State (32nd).