The college tennis world is looking up at Southern California, as our Section dominates the pre-season ITA rankings released this week, including a firm hold on the nation’s top Division I singles and doubles positions.
The USC Trojans will open the 2021 campaign as the nation’s top men’s squad, fueled by the top-ranked D1 singles player and doubles tandem. Daniel Cukierman leads head coach Brett Masi’s Trojans into their second consecutive season as favorites, alongside SoCal products Riley Smith, Jake Sands, Stefan Dostanic, Sean Holt, and Colter Smith. Cukierman and Riley Smith are the nation’s top ranked doubles team.
Trojans Angela Kulikov & Eryn Cayetano will lead the women’s squad for USC. The USC team, entering 2021 at #17 in the ITA rankings under head coach Alison Swain, is stock full of SoCal products including senior Constance Branstine and former SoCal Open Sectionals champion Salma Ewing.
Pepperdine will enjoy one more year of stellar play from fifth-year Ashley Lahey atop the women’s national rankings. Per Nilssons’s team will start the year at #13, boosted by another returning grad student Jessica Failla and featuring Calabasas’ Lexi Ryngler, who joins the Waves as a red shirt frosh.
But the spotlight in women’s tennis will swing to UCLA, where Stella Sampras-Webster’s Bruins are primed for a run at the national title. They will open the year ranked #2 (behind UNC) with fifth-year Jada Hart & Elysia Bolton rated as the nation’s top doubles team. The Bruins feature SoCal’s Sophie Bendetti, Caroline Goldberg, and Annette Goulak. Bolton and Abbey Forbes also rank within Singles top 10.
The UCLA men, ranked #18, are led by SoCal’s Keegan Smith (#10 singles) and Govind Nanda (#22). The pair rank at #13 in doubles and expect to keep Billy Martin’s Bruins in contention along with returning senior Ben Goldberg and a host of SoCal locals.
Also in top doubles, Gui Osorio & Nico Borter (#26) of USD are among the nation’s top tandems.
Find the full rankings overviews at the ITA website.
D1 MEN’S SINGLES OF NOTE
1. Daniel Cukierman – University of Southern California
10. Keegan Smith – UCLA
19. Riley Smith – University of Southern California
22. Govind Nanda – UCLA
26. Mor Bulis – University of Southern California
27. Joseph Guillin – UC Santa Barbara
51. Gui Osorio – University Of San Diego
57. Siem Woldeab – University of Texas
60. August Holmgren – University Of San Diego
79. Ryder Jackson – University of Southern California
90. Corrado Summaria – Pepperdine
104. Stefan Dostanic – University of Southern California
109. Sam Feit – UCLA
119. Tristan Boyer – Stanford University
D1 MEN’S DOUBLES OF NOTE
1. Riley Smith & Daniel Cukierman – University of Southern California
13. Govind Nanda & Keegan Smith – UCLA
26. Gui Osorio & Nico Borter – University Of San Diego
34. Adrian Oetzbach & Daniel De Jonge – Pepperdine
43T. Siem Woldeab & Payton Holden – University of Texas
50. Mor Bulis & Stefan Dostanic – University of Southern California
58. Corrado Summaria & Tim Zeitvogel – Pepperdine
D1 WOMEN’S SINGLES OF NOTE
1. Ashley Lahey – Pepperdine
7. Abbey Forbes – UCLA
8. Kelly Chen – Duke University
9. Elysia Bolton – UCLA
12. Shiori Fukuda – Pepperdine
18. Haley Giavara – California
19. Jada Hart – UCLA
22. Angela Kulikov – University of Southern California
33. Jessica Failla – Pepperdine
36. Anastasia Iamachkine – Pepperdine
42. Rebeka Stolmar – UCF
45. Lexi Ryngler – Pepperdine
48. Eryn Cayetano – University of Southern California
61. Solymar Colling – University of San Diego
103. Naomi Cheong – University of Southern California
113. Sasha Vagramov – UCLA
119. Vanessa Ong – UCLA
124. Elizabeth Goldsmith – San Diego
125. Charlotte Chavatipon – University of Texas
D1 WOMEN’S DOUBLES OF NOTE
1. Elysia Bolton & Jada Hart – UCLA
12. Angela Kulikov & Eryn Cayetano – University of Southern California
T34. Chloe Beck & Kelly Chen – Duke University
40. Haley Giavara & Valentina Ivanov – California