COLUMBUS, Ohio – ITA Kickoff Weekend gets underway for the UC Santa Barbara Women's Tennis team on Jan. 24, as the Gauchos face Georgia Tech at 10 a.m. in Columbus, Ohio. The day after, the Gauchos will face either Iowa or No. 13 Ohio State to conclude their weekend trip.
LAST TIME OUT
The Blue and Gold head to Columbus with a 1-1 record after a tenacious win over Utah. UC Santa Barbara showcased its doubles strength by earning the doubles point and carried that momentum into singles action with crucial contributions throughout the lineup.
A comeback win at the top spot ultimately proved decisive, as the Gauchos secured a hard-fought 4-3 victory behind stellar performances in both doubles and singles.
ABOUT THE YELLOW JACKETS
Last Saturday, Georgia Tech opened its season with a 7-0 sweep of in-state rival Georgia State and enters the matchup against the Gauchos at 1-0. The Yellow Jackets return to spring play after a 14-12 campaign in 2025 that included their 25th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and a first-round victory over Iowa.
The team is led by head coach Rodney Harmon in his 14th season with the Jackets. New additions to the team, freshmen Sabritt Dozier, Eleni Karantali, and Seri Nayuki, displayed what they look to add to the team, all contributing to a win against Georgia State in both singles and doubles.
ABOUT THE HAWKEYES
Iowa arrives in Ohio with a 2-1 record on the season. On Jan. 19 the Hawkeyes split a pair of road duals on Monday at the Sheffield Indoor Tennis Center. On Jan. 19 at the Sheffield Indoor Tennis Center, the Hawkeyes dropped a 4-1 decision to No. 8 Duke before rebounding with a dominant 4-0 sweep of NC Central.
The Hawkeyes return five letterwinners from a team that posted 13 wins last season, finished tied for eighth in the Big Ten, and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The appearance marked Iowa's first trip to the national postseason in 15 years.
Leading the program is Hawkeye alumna Sasha Boros, now in her 10th season as head coach. In doubles, sophomore Sally Xu and freshman Eline Bex closed the fall ranked 82nd nationally in the ITA standings.
ABOUT THE BUCKEYES
ITA Kickoff Weekend will serve as No. 13 Ohio State's first dual competition of the 2026 season. The Buckeyes are coming off an impressive spring campaign last year, finishing ranked fourth nationally with a 23-4 overall record.
Ohio State features strong individual depth in the national rankings. Four Buckeyes appear in the ITA singles rankings following the fall season, led by Luciana Perry at No. 10 and Teah Chavez at No. 14. Nao Nishino sits 68th nationally, while Sophia Cisse-Ignative holds the 91st spot. In doubles, the duo of Perry and Chavez is ranked 29th nationally, while Audrey Spencer and Nishino check in at No. 65.
