Led By No. 1 Daniel Cukierman, Eight Trojans Earn ITA National Rankings

After a wildly successful fall campaign, the USC men's tennis program has flooded the ITA rankings with seven ranked singles players and four ranked doubles duos. It's the first time since 2013 that USC has accomplished that feat, and is highlighted by the program's first top-ranked singles player since 2012 in junior Daniel Cukierman.

Cukierman follows in the footsteps of Trojan greats Stevie Johnson and Robert Farah, who both were ranked No. 1 in 2010 before Johnson went on to stand at No. 1 at the close of his 2011 junior and 2012 senior seasons as well. This fall, Cukierman laid claim to the Oracle ITA Masters championship and had racked up 12 straight singles wins before taking his first and only loss of the fall in the ITA Fall Nationals quarterfinals.

"I think having this many guys ranked is pretty remarkable," USC head coach Brett Masi said. "It really shows the talent we have but even more it shows the work they are putting in. It gives the guys motivation to keep pushing hard as they see that their hard work has paid off. It shows the level they are playing at, the success they've had this fall, and it's well deserved. We're now going into the next stretch with everyone in our lineup ranked, and that doesn't happen too often. Hopefully it shows the rest fo the country that we can be a force. I like that pressure, and look forward to seeing how these guys handle it.

"Having a guy ranked No. 1 in the country is always super special. Hat's off to Daniel for hitting that mark. I did tell him, though, that it's great to be No. 1 now, but it's even better to me No. 1 at the end."

Cukierman is one of six Trojans who are enjoying career-high singles rankings with this November 13 unveiling of the latest ITA ranks. He's joined in the top-10 by sophomore Mor Bulis, who won the Milwaukee Tennis Classic singles title and went 11-3 in fall action to climb to No. 9 in the land. Senior Brandon Holt saw limited fall action, but was a perfect 5-0 in his efforts en route to the Battle in the Bay singles crown to help him to No. 25 in the latest rankings. His career high still stands at No. 4, but the multiple ITA All-American is a sure bet to be back in the top-10 in the spring.

The other four Trojans with new career bests are led by senior Riley Smith, who has stormed to his first-ever singles ranking thanks to an 11-4 record in the fall that has him at No. 26 in the land. Freshman Stefan Dostanic also has a top-50 rank, locked in at No. 37 after reaching the ITA Southwest Regional singles final last month. Fellow freshman Ryder Jackson also leaps into the rankings at No. 64 with an 11-5 record bulked up by his recent run to the SoCal Intercollegiate singles final. Sophomore Jake Sands, meanwhile, has upgraded his previous career best to stand at No. 84 in the nation.

In doubles, senior Riley Smith is paired up with three different teammates in the rankings. He and sophomore Bradley Frye top out at No. 12 after their rally to the ITA All-American quarterfinals. Smith and his fellow senior Brandon Holt — who have been ranked as high as No. 2 early last season — won the ITA Southwest Regional doubles crown this fall and sit at No. 24 in the land as they look toward their senior spring. Smith's third ranking has him alongside freshman Ryder Jackson at No. 43 thanks in part to a run to the Battle in the Bay final. They are just a step ahead of the pair that beat them in that title match, with freshman-senior pairing Stefan Dostanic and Holt weighing in at No. 44 in the nation as the fall comes to a close.

This fall, USC had Trojans win at least one individual title at five out of seven tournaments competed in.

TROJANS IN THE ITA NATIONAL RANKINGS (Nov. 13, 2019)

SINGLES
#1 Daniel Cukierman* (Oracle ITA Masters champion)
#9 Mor Bulis* (Milwaukee Tennis Classic champion)
#25 Brandon Holt (Battle in the Bay champion)
#26 Riley Smith* (Battle in the Bay semifinalist)
#37 Stefan Dostanic* (ITA Southwest Regional finalist)
#64 Ryder Jackson* (SoCal Intercollegiate finalist)
#84 Jake Sands* (ITA Southwest Regional quarterfinalist)

DOUBLES
#12 Bradley Frye / Riley Smith* (ITA All-American quarterfinalists)
#24 Brandon Holt / Riley Smith (ITA Southwest Regional champions)
#43 Ryder Jackson / Riley Smith* (Battle in the Bay finalists)
#44 Stefan Dostanic / Brandon Holt* (Battle in the Bay champions)

* — career-high ranking

Players Mentioned

Mor Bulis

Daniel Cukierman

Stefan Dostanic

Bradley Frye

Brandon Holt

Ryder Jackson

Jake Sands

Riley Smith