NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Vanderbilt women’s tennis team has filled a slot on its 2024–25 roster with the signing of Sophia Webster, a standout talent from Southern California.
Born and raised in El Segundo, Webster joins the Commodores as a Blue Chip, ranked No. 12 in the nation by the Tennis Recruiting Network. The No. 3 recruit in Florida, she honed her skills at the Gomez Tennis Academy in Naples for the past three years.
With an ITF Junior Ranking of 314 and consistent presence in the USTA Top 20 singles and doubles rankings, Webster has distinguished herself nationally.
Among her notable achievements, she was the USTA’s year-end No. 1 ranked player in doubles for 2022. She boasts titles such as the USTA Gold and Silver Ball Winner at the Girls’ 16 National Doubles Championship in Orlando, Florida, and the Girls’ 16 National Clay Courts in Huntsville, Alabama, among many others alongside partner and incoming teammate Trinetra Vijayakumar.
Webster’s accomplishments extend to the international stage, with standout performances at prestigious tournaments like the ITF Orange Bowl and other World Tennis Tour Juniors events in Barbados, Czech Republic, Mexico and Costa Rica.
Webster’s family background reflects her deep connection to tennis. Her twin sister, Savannah, will join the University of Miami’s tennis program in the fall, while her mother, Stella Sampras Webster, is women’s tennis head coach at UCLA. She is also the niece of tennis legend and 14-time Grand Slam Champion Pete Sampras.
Vanderbilt women’s tennis head coach Aleke Tsoubanos expressed excitement about Webster’s arrival: “We’re thrilled to welcome Sophia to the Vandy family. It became clear to our staff during her official visit that she would be the perfect fit in our program. She’s a hard worker who will impact this group, and she thrives in the team environment. I can’t wait for her to join us next season.”