Former Trojan Anna Maria Fernandez-Ruffels Named to 2021 ITA Women’s Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame

Former Trojan Anna Maria Fernandez-Ruffels was named to the 2021 ITA Women's Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame Class today, Sept. 22. The 2021 Class will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in a ceremony on Sept. 18, 2021. 
 
While at USC, Fernandez-Ruffels was a four-time All-American (1979-82) and helped to lead the Trojans to back-to-back national team championships in 1979 and 1980. In 1981, Fernandez-Ruffels went on to win the AIAW Singles National Championship and was awarded the Honda-Broderick Award, which is presented annually to the nation's best collegiate women's tennis player. Also in 1981, she was named the Tennis Magazine College Player of the Year. 
 
Professionally, Fernandez-Ruffels won five WTA titles in doubles and reached a career high doubles ranking of No. 44. In singles play, she ranked as high as No. 19.

Fernandez-Ruffels is part of an athletic family with strong USC ties.  Her daughter, Gabriela Ruffels, is a senior on the USC women's golf team who won the 2019 U.S. Women's Amateur (and was runner-up in 2020) and who was a top-ranked tennis junior in her native Australia.  Her sisters, twin Anna Lucia Fernandez and younger sister Cecilia Fernandez, were All-American tennis players at USC.  Her son, Ryan Ruffels, is a professional golfer.  Her husband, Ray Ruffels, was a world-ranked pro tennis player who won an Australian Open doubles title. 
 
Every two years, the ITA Women's Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame Selection Committee chooses outstanding players, coaches, and contributors to women's college tennis to be welcomed into the ITA Women's Collegiate Tennis Hall of Fame.
 
The other members of the four person class include Diane Donnelly Stone, Lin Loring and Lisa Spain Short. The induction will consist of a ceremony will also honor the life of former chair and curator of the Hall of Fame, Millie West.