March 18, 2010
COLUMBIA, S.C. – No. 64 South Carolina hosts No. 25 Nebraska and No. 14 Mississippi in men’s tennis action at Maxcy Gregg Tennis Center this weekend. The Cornhuskers arrive for a 2 p.m. contest on Fri., March 19, while the Gamecocks return to SEC action against the Rebels on Sun., March 21, at 1 p.m.
South Carolina has a pair of singles players nationally-ranked this week as Pedro Campos earned the No. 125 spot, joining No. 73 Diego Cubas among the nation’s elite singles players. The seniors are ranked No. 17 and No. 5, respectively, in the Carolina Region. Campos has built a 9-1 record in dual matches, providing a point from the No. 2 singles spot for the Gamecocks’ last six matches.
The Nebraska Cornhuskers are 11-4 and come to Columbia toting their highest ranking in program history at No. 25, but saw their eight-match winning streak come to an end with a 5-2 loss at No. 22 Virginia Tech on Wednesday. Junior Calin Paar is ranked No. 81 in the nation with a 19-7 overall record, including a 12-2 mark in dual matches playing mostly in the No. 2 spot. Just a step behind Paar is the Cornhuskers’ No. 1 player, sophomore Christopher Aumueller who is ranked 82nd in the country with a 20-8 overall record, including a 10-4 slate in dual matches. In doubles action, Paar teams with junior David Bendheim in the top spot in the lineup. The nation’s 73rd-ranked duo is 8-6 on the season, including a 6-4 mark in dual-match play.
Ole Miss sits among the nation’s top 15 with an 11-2 overall record and a 3-1 start to SEC play after battling out a pair of victories over Arkansas and LSU last weekend. The Rebels play at College of Charleston Friday afternoon before arriving in Columbia for Sunday’s match. A pair of Rebels rank among the nation’s top 60 in singles, led by No. 59 Marcel Thiemann as the sophomore boasts a 19-7 overall record. He is 10-3 in dual matches, including a perfect 6-0 slate in the No. 2 spot. Ranked No. 60 in the nation, junior Tucker Vorster has a team-high 21 wins, including a 7-5 record in dual matches. Vorster has manned the top singles spot for the Rebels in the last two matches, carrying a 3-4 record in that position. He pairs with freshman Jonas Lutjen to form the nation’s No. 51 doubles tandem. The duo is 9-4 in the No. 1 position this season, including a 3-1 slate in SEC matches.
The Gamecocks and Cornhuskers are meeting on the tennis courts for the first time, while Ole Miss holds a 21-7 advantage over South Carolina in the all-time series. The Gamecocks’ last victory over the Rebels was a 4-1 decision on April 2, 2004, in Columbia.
