MOSCOW, Idaho - The University of Idaho women's tennis team made a significant addition with the announced transfer of Gabriela Niculescu.

Niculescu is a transfer from USC where she won back-to-back Pac-10 Doubles Championships and was ranked No. 10 nationally in 2009. She was named an Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-American in doubles in 2008 after reaching the NCAA Doubles Quarterfinals and ended the season ranked No. 5 in the nation. Her team also was named the 2009 Pac-10 Doubles Team of the Year.

"This is a very big signing for our program," Idaho women's tennis coach Tyler Neill said. "To be able to sign a player of this caliber is a huge step for Idaho tennis and Gabi should immediately make a positive impact.  Her skills and leadership will be the addition Idaho needs to get us into the national rankings."

Niculescu also earned much success as a singles player and ended the 2009 season ranked No. 92. She tallied a 55-22 overall singles record in two seasons at USC and was ranked as high as No. 38 in 2008 before ending the season at No. 48.

Prior to playing collegiate tennis, Niculescu was a national singles champion in her native Romania in 2000 and 2003. She has been ranked as high as No. 376 in singles and No. 199 in doubles on the WTA Tour.