Women's Tennis
Swain, Alison
Alison Swain
- Title:
- Women's Tennis Head Coach
- Email:
- alisonsw@usc.edu
- Phone:
- (213) 740-3828
Alison Swain, who built a women's tennis dynasty at Williams College by leading the Ephs to 8 NCAA Division III team championships, was officially hired to be the USC women’s tennis head coach on June 7, 2017. She enters her ninth season (2025-26) as the head coach of the Women of Troy.
Through her eight seasons at USC, she holds a 128-74 overall record (.634) with a 42-27 record (.609) in conference matches (9-4 in Big Ten play / 33-23 in Pac-12 play).
USC went 17-8 overall during the 2025 season and finished 9-4 in Big Ten play. The Trojans reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament and the quarterfinals of the conference tournament in 2025. USC’s Grace Piper and Lily Fairclough represented USC at the inaugural 2024 Fall NCAA Individual Championships, with Piper reaching the singles round of 32 and the pair of Piper/Fairclough reaching the doubles round of 16. Trojans Piper and Emma Charney earned First Team All-Conference honors, while five student-athletes received Big Ten academic honors.
The Women of Troy stunned during the 2024 season, finishing No. 13 in the team rankings after tallying a 20-9 overall record (8-2 in Pac-12 competition). It was a strong final Pac-12 season for the Trojans, who finished the conference championship tied for third place. It was also a momentous season for Swain, who surpassed the 100-dual win mark in her seventh season at USC.
In the NCAA post season, the Trojans cruised through the opening rounds, sweeping both Cal Poly and No. 23 San Diego before falling in the Round of 16 to Pepperdine. Individually, Emma Charney, Snow Han and Grace Piper all picked up All-Pac 12 First-Team selections. Charney and Piper both made the NCAA singles tournament and Piper recorded a career-best finish as she reached the Round of 32. Charney also took part in the NCAA doubles competition alongside Eryn Cayetano, with the pair coming up just short in the opening round. The Women of Troy had an impressive season off the court, picking up ITA All-Academic Team Honors during the spring. Eight Trojans finished with ITA Scholar Athlete status, while six earned a spot on the Pac-12’s Spring Academic Honor Roll.
During the 2023 season, the Trojans recorded an overall record of 20-10, going 9-5 in conference play. The Women of Troy kicked off the season with a four-match win streak, and later in the season stormed to a historic second-place finish in the Pac-12 Championship Tournament. In the NCAA tournament, the Women of Troy defeated UNLV in their first-round match-up, before falling to No. 9 seed Pepperdine (host) in the second round. Freshman Maddy Sieg and senior Eryn Cayetano led the way for the Trojans throughout the season, with Sieg making a historic run at the NCAA Tournament as she reached the semifinals in both singles and doubles. As a duo, Sieg and Cayetano earned All-America honors as they reached the doubles semifinals and wrapped up the season as the No. 9 ranked duo in the country. Sieg finished the season ranked No. 5 in singles while Cayetano checked in at No. 43 and was named the ITA National and Southwest Region Cissie Leary Sportsmanship Award recipient. The Trojans wrapped up the season as the No. 24 ranked team in the country, with two ranked singles players and three ranked doubles pairings. USC was named an ITA All-Academic Team in 2023 with five players earning the title of ITA Scholar-Athlete. Additionally, four Trojans were named to the Pac-12’s Spring Academic Honor Roll.
During 2022, the Women of Troy recorded an 18-12 record and went 7-3 in Pac-12 Conference play. USC, which remained in the top-25 nationally all season, kicked off 2022 with a 5-0 start to the season and secured a trip to the ITA National Indoor Championships for the first time since 2015. Later in the season, the Women of Troy would be selected to compete in the 2022 NCAA Tournament, defeating San Diego State in Malibu, CA before falling to #8 Pepperdine during the Second Round. Junior Eryn Cayetano and Salma Ewing both turned in stellar seasons, earning placement in the NCAA Singles Tournament and picking up All-American singles honors. Cayetano, who would go on to be named a Honda Sport Award Finalist reached the NCAA Singles Quarterfinals while Ewing would fall during the Round of 16 (she’d later be named the ITA Southwest Region’s Most Improved Senior). The Trojans wrapped up the season as the No. 20 ranked squad in the country, with four singles players and three doubles pairings ranked nationally.
In 2021, the Women of Troy recorded a 13-11 record and went 5-5 in Pac-12 Conference play. After being selected to compete in the 2021 NCAA Tournament, the Trojans upset both Oklahoma and Florida in the First and Second Rounds to advance to the Round of 16 where they fell to North Carolina State. Junior Salma Ewing earned placement in the NCAA Singles Tournament where she fell in the First Round. The Trojans finished No. 27 in the country with three singles players nationally ranked.
In 2020, the Trojans had a 7-6 record and went 0-2 in Pac-12 Conference play. During the 2020 campaign, the sport was shut down nationally midseason due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (USC's last 10 regular season matches were cancelled.)
In 2019, the Trojans had a 20-8 record and went 7-3 in Pac-12 Conference play. They were selected to compete in their 36th all-time NCAA appearance where they reached the Round of 16.
During the 2019 season, Swain coached the Trojan pair of Angela Kulikov and Rianna Valdes who were semifinalists in the 2019 NCAA Doubles Tournament. The duo entered the tournament as the No. 1 ranked team in the nation. In addition, Salma Ewing was selected to compete in the NCAA Singles Tournament where she fell in the First Round. USC finished the season ranked No. 16 in the country with two singles players and one doubles pair nationally ranked.
In 2018, USC went 13-10 and 5-5 in Pac-12 conference play. The team reached the Quarterfinals of the Pac-12 Tournament, where they fell to Arizona State. Trojan Gabby Smith was selected to compete in the 2018 NCAA Singles Tournament where she fell in the First Round. USC finished the season ranked No. 49 in the country with two singles players and one doubles pair nationally ranked.
Prior to arriving at Troy, Swain posted an .889 winning percentage (224-28) in her 10 seasons (2008-17) at Williams, including 48-2 in NCAA tournament play. She led the Ephs to 8 NCAA team championships, including in each of her first 6 seasons (an NCAA Division III record and tying Stanford for most consecutive at any level) as well as in 2015 (going 25-0) and the just-concluded 2017 campaign. In her other 2 seasons, Williams was the NCAA runnerup in 2016 and was third in 2014. She also helped Williams win 5 conference championships.
She was named the 2013 ITA National Division III Coach of the Year, was a 5-time conference Coach of the Year and twice (2010-13) was the ITA Northeast Coach of the Year. She produced 2 NCAA champion doubles teams (Juli Raventos and Linda Shin in 2015 and 2016) and a trio of NCAA singles runners-up, along with 18 All-Americans, 2 ITA National Senior Players of the Year and an ITA National Most Improved Senior of the Year.
She also was an assistant professor of physical education at Williams.
Swain was the second person in any division to win an NCAA tennis team championship as a player and a coach. She co-captained Williams' 2001 NCAA championship squad (the first in school history). She won All-New England Small College Athletic Conference honors and was named a Scholar-Athlete All-American.
After graduating from Williams in 2001 with a degree in American studies, she taught eighth grade and coached the girls' tennis team at Woodward Academy in College Park, Ga., for 3 years (2002-04), winning the region each year and getting to the state finals in 2004. She received a master's degree in education from Washington in 2006 and then taught upper schoolers at Telluride (Colo.) Mountain School for a year (2006-07) before returning to her alma mater to take the Williams head job in the summer of 2007.
Swain is a native of Bainbridge, Wash. She was a member of the board of directors of the ITA through June of 2018. She and her mother, Sue Swain, were the nation's top-ranked mother/daughter doubles team in 2003, winning both the National Mother/Daughter Indoor and Grass Court doubles tourneys. She has been an instructor in indoor cycling and downhill skiing, as well as a white water rafting guide.
Coach Swain is married and has two children, Rosie and Kaia.
Through her eight seasons at USC, she holds a 128-74 overall record (.634) with a 42-27 record (.609) in conference matches (9-4 in Big Ten play / 33-23 in Pac-12 play).
USC went 17-8 overall during the 2025 season and finished 9-4 in Big Ten play. The Trojans reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament and the quarterfinals of the conference tournament in 2025. USC’s Grace Piper and Lily Fairclough represented USC at the inaugural 2024 Fall NCAA Individual Championships, with Piper reaching the singles round of 32 and the pair of Piper/Fairclough reaching the doubles round of 16. Trojans Piper and Emma Charney earned First Team All-Conference honors, while five student-athletes received Big Ten academic honors.
The Women of Troy stunned during the 2024 season, finishing No. 13 in the team rankings after tallying a 20-9 overall record (8-2 in Pac-12 competition). It was a strong final Pac-12 season for the Trojans, who finished the conference championship tied for third place. It was also a momentous season for Swain, who surpassed the 100-dual win mark in her seventh season at USC.
In the NCAA post season, the Trojans cruised through the opening rounds, sweeping both Cal Poly and No. 23 San Diego before falling in the Round of 16 to Pepperdine. Individually, Emma Charney, Snow Han and Grace Piper all picked up All-Pac 12 First-Team selections. Charney and Piper both made the NCAA singles tournament and Piper recorded a career-best finish as she reached the Round of 32. Charney also took part in the NCAA doubles competition alongside Eryn Cayetano, with the pair coming up just short in the opening round. The Women of Troy had an impressive season off the court, picking up ITA All-Academic Team Honors during the spring. Eight Trojans finished with ITA Scholar Athlete status, while six earned a spot on the Pac-12’s Spring Academic Honor Roll.
During the 2023 season, the Trojans recorded an overall record of 20-10, going 9-5 in conference play. The Women of Troy kicked off the season with a four-match win streak, and later in the season stormed to a historic second-place finish in the Pac-12 Championship Tournament. In the NCAA tournament, the Women of Troy defeated UNLV in their first-round match-up, before falling to No. 9 seed Pepperdine (host) in the second round. Freshman Maddy Sieg and senior Eryn Cayetano led the way for the Trojans throughout the season, with Sieg making a historic run at the NCAA Tournament as she reached the semifinals in both singles and doubles. As a duo, Sieg and Cayetano earned All-America honors as they reached the doubles semifinals and wrapped up the season as the No. 9 ranked duo in the country. Sieg finished the season ranked No. 5 in singles while Cayetano checked in at No. 43 and was named the ITA National and Southwest Region Cissie Leary Sportsmanship Award recipient. The Trojans wrapped up the season as the No. 24 ranked team in the country, with two ranked singles players and three ranked doubles pairings. USC was named an ITA All-Academic Team in 2023 with five players earning the title of ITA Scholar-Athlete. Additionally, four Trojans were named to the Pac-12’s Spring Academic Honor Roll.
During 2022, the Women of Troy recorded an 18-12 record and went 7-3 in Pac-12 Conference play. USC, which remained in the top-25 nationally all season, kicked off 2022 with a 5-0 start to the season and secured a trip to the ITA National Indoor Championships for the first time since 2015. Later in the season, the Women of Troy would be selected to compete in the 2022 NCAA Tournament, defeating San Diego State in Malibu, CA before falling to #8 Pepperdine during the Second Round. Junior Eryn Cayetano and Salma Ewing both turned in stellar seasons, earning placement in the NCAA Singles Tournament and picking up All-American singles honors. Cayetano, who would go on to be named a Honda Sport Award Finalist reached the NCAA Singles Quarterfinals while Ewing would fall during the Round of 16 (she’d later be named the ITA Southwest Region’s Most Improved Senior). The Trojans wrapped up the season as the No. 20 ranked squad in the country, with four singles players and three doubles pairings ranked nationally.
In 2021, the Women of Troy recorded a 13-11 record and went 5-5 in Pac-12 Conference play. After being selected to compete in the 2021 NCAA Tournament, the Trojans upset both Oklahoma and Florida in the First and Second Rounds to advance to the Round of 16 where they fell to North Carolina State. Junior Salma Ewing earned placement in the NCAA Singles Tournament where she fell in the First Round. The Trojans finished No. 27 in the country with three singles players nationally ranked.
In 2020, the Trojans had a 7-6 record and went 0-2 in Pac-12 Conference play. During the 2020 campaign, the sport was shut down nationally midseason due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (USC's last 10 regular season matches were cancelled.)
In 2019, the Trojans had a 20-8 record and went 7-3 in Pac-12 Conference play. They were selected to compete in their 36th all-time NCAA appearance where they reached the Round of 16.
During the 2019 season, Swain coached the Trojan pair of Angela Kulikov and Rianna Valdes who were semifinalists in the 2019 NCAA Doubles Tournament. The duo entered the tournament as the No. 1 ranked team in the nation. In addition, Salma Ewing was selected to compete in the NCAA Singles Tournament where she fell in the First Round. USC finished the season ranked No. 16 in the country with two singles players and one doubles pair nationally ranked.
In 2018, USC went 13-10 and 5-5 in Pac-12 conference play. The team reached the Quarterfinals of the Pac-12 Tournament, where they fell to Arizona State. Trojan Gabby Smith was selected to compete in the 2018 NCAA Singles Tournament where she fell in the First Round. USC finished the season ranked No. 49 in the country with two singles players and one doubles pair nationally ranked.
Prior to arriving at Troy, Swain posted an .889 winning percentage (224-28) in her 10 seasons (2008-17) at Williams, including 48-2 in NCAA tournament play. She led the Ephs to 8 NCAA team championships, including in each of her first 6 seasons (an NCAA Division III record and tying Stanford for most consecutive at any level) as well as in 2015 (going 25-0) and the just-concluded 2017 campaign. In her other 2 seasons, Williams was the NCAA runnerup in 2016 and was third in 2014. She also helped Williams win 5 conference championships.
She was named the 2013 ITA National Division III Coach of the Year, was a 5-time conference Coach of the Year and twice (2010-13) was the ITA Northeast Coach of the Year. She produced 2 NCAA champion doubles teams (Juli Raventos and Linda Shin in 2015 and 2016) and a trio of NCAA singles runners-up, along with 18 All-Americans, 2 ITA National Senior Players of the Year and an ITA National Most Improved Senior of the Year.
She also was an assistant professor of physical education at Williams.
Swain was the second person in any division to win an NCAA tennis team championship as a player and a coach. She co-captained Williams' 2001 NCAA championship squad (the first in school history). She won All-New England Small College Athletic Conference honors and was named a Scholar-Athlete All-American.
After graduating from Williams in 2001 with a degree in American studies, she taught eighth grade and coached the girls' tennis team at Woodward Academy in College Park, Ga., for 3 years (2002-04), winning the region each year and getting to the state finals in 2004. She received a master's degree in education from Washington in 2006 and then taught upper schoolers at Telluride (Colo.) Mountain School for a year (2006-07) before returning to her alma mater to take the Williams head job in the summer of 2007.
Swain is a native of Bainbridge, Wash. She was a member of the board of directors of the ITA through June of 2018. She and her mother, Sue Swain, were the nation's top-ranked mother/daughter doubles team in 2003, winning both the National Mother/Daughter Indoor and Grass Court doubles tourneys. She has been an instructor in indoor cycling and downhill skiing, as well as a white water rafting guide.
Coach Swain is married and has two children, Rosie and Kaia.
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