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Gamecocks Ready for More SEC Action at Home
Men's Tennis  . 

Gamecocks Ready for More SEC Action at Home

COLUMBIA, S.C. – No. 16 South Carolina men’s tennis (7-3, 3-1 SEC) will host a pair of top-15 opponents in SEC play at Carolina Tennis Center this weekend. The Gamecocks will face No. 3 Tennessee (14-1, 3-0 SEC) on Fri., Mar. 5, at 3 p.m. before taking on No. 14 Georgia (6-2, 1-2 SEC) on Sun., Mar. 7, at 1 p.m.
 
Gamecock Notables

  • The Gamecocks are 7-3 overall and 3-1 in SEC action after a competitive weekend of SEC play on the road. 
  • South Carolina moved up two spots in the Oracle/ITA Rankings this week to 16, its highest ranking this season.
  • Doubles pair Toby Samuel and Jake Beasley continue to lead the Gamecocks with a 15-6 overall record, and also lead the team with a 3-1 SEC mark.
  • The team has a combined 6-5 record against ranked doubles teams and an 8-5 record against ranked singles players.
  • No. 32 Daniel Rodrigues and true freshman Toby Samuel both have a team-best 14 singles wins on the season. In SEC action, Beasley joins them with three wins each.
  • Samuel is on a six-match winning streak in singles, which is the longest active streak for the Gamecocks.

 
The Tennessee Series

  • South Carolina last faced Tennessee on Mar. 15, 2019, when the Volunteers won a 5-2 decision in Knoxville.
  • This will be just the 24th time the teams will meet in Columbia, S.C., and the first home meeting since 2018. 
  • The Gamecocks last defeated the Volunteers at the Carolina Tennis Center in a 4-2 decision on Mar. 27, 2016.

 
Scouting the Volunteers

  • Ranked No. 3 in the nation, Tennessee is undefeated in conference play and is 14-1 overall, only losing to then-No. 2 North Carolina. They are 2-0 in away matches.
  • The Volunteers are 6-1 against ranked opponents this spring and are on a current six match winning streak.
  • Freshman Johannus Monday is a six-time back-to-back SEC Freshman of the week and was Co-Freshman of the week on Feb. 10 with South Carolina’s Toby Samuel.
  • Tennessee boasts nine returners and four freshmen and is led by head coach Chris Woodruff, who is in his 19th season.

 
The Georgia Series

  • In the last meeting between the border rivals, the Gamecocks defeated the Bulldogs in a 4-3 decision during the ITA Kickoff Weekend in Starkville, Miss on Jan. 16, 2020.
  • South Carolina last hosted Georgia on Mar. 4, 2018, when the Gamecocks won 4-3.
  • This will be the 18th meeting between the SEC rivals in South Carolina, and the fifth in the Carolina Tennis Center.

 
Scouting the Bulldogs

  • Georgia is 1-2 in SEC play with losses to Tennessee and Ole Miss, which are its only losses this season.
  • The Bulldogs are 1-1 against ranked opponents, topping then-No. 14 NC State 4-3 and losing 2-4 to No. 3 Tennessee.
  • Georgia will play its first road match on Fri., Mar. 5, at No. 10 Florida.
  • The team’s roster includes nine returners and one freshman. The Bulldogs are led by head coach Manuel Diaz, who is in his 33rd season with the team.

 
Rankings Roundup
No. 18 South Carolina
Singles
No. 32 Daniel Rodrigues
No. 81 Raphael Lambling
No. 118 Connor Thomson
 
Doubles
No. 44 Daniel Rodrigues / Connor Thomson
No. 59 Raphael Lambling / Phillip Jordan
 
No. 3 Tennessee
Singles
No. 24 Adam Walton
No. 124 Pat Harper
 
No. 14 Georgia
Singles
No. 9 Trent Bryde
No. 18 Philip Henning
No. 73 Tyler Zink
 
Doubles
No. 8 Trent Bryde / Tyler Zink
No. 20 Blake Croyder / Philip Henning
 
For men’s tennis updates, continue to check back with GamecocksOnline.com or follow the team on social media (@GamecockMTennis).
 
 
 
 
 

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