Feb. 17, 2010

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The 22nd-ranked South Carolina women’s tennis team (2-2) began the first of its seven consecutive home matches with a 7-0 victory against Winthrop (3-2) on Wednesday at the USC Field House.

The Gamecocks stormed out to a 1-0 lead by sweeping all three doubles positions. Ana Marija Zubori and Dijana Stojic finished first on court one with an 8-2 triumph over Yasmine Alkema and Elizaveta Zaytseva. Josefin Andersson and Madeleine Saari-Byström clinched the point for the Gamecocks at two by an 8-3 count over Sandra Herrera and Giovanna Portioli. At No. 3 doubles, Miljana Jocic and Anya Morgina came back from an early 2-0 deficit to upend Paula Pereira and Lisa Wilkinson 8-3.

Zubori got the scoring in singles started quickly for the Gamecocks, defeating Zaytseva 6-0, 6-2 at the top position to put South Carolina head 2-0. Morgina rolled through her match at the No. 3 position against Herrera, winning 6-1, 6-4. Andersson provided the winning point for Carolina with a 6-4, 6-3 triumph over Portioli on court four.

Stojic added South Carolina’s fifth point by pulling out a third-set super tiebreaker over Yasmine Alkema at the No. 3 slot 4-6, 6-4, (10-5). Saari-Byström made the score 6-0 with a decisive 6-1, 6-1 decision versus Wilkinson at five. Jocic concluded the day defeating Pereira 6-0, 6-2.

South Carolina returns to the courts Sunday when it hosts in-state rival and 14th-ranked Clemson at 1 p.m. The match will be played outside at Maxcy Gregg Tennis Center on Blossom Street.

#22 South Carolina (2-2) def. #70 Winthrop (3-2), 7-0

Singles
1. #38 Ana Marija Zubori, USC, def. Elizaveta Zaytseva, WU, 6-0, 6-2
2. Dijana Stojic, USC, def. Yasmine Alkema, WU, 4-6, 6-4, (10-5)
3. #69 Anya Morgina, USC, def. Sandra Herrera, WU, 6-1, 6-4
4. Josefin Andersson, USC, def. Giovanna Portioli, WU, 6-4, 6-3
5. Madeleine Saari-Byström, USC, def. Lisa Wilkinson, WU, 6-1, 6-1
6. Miljana Jocic, USC, def. Paula Pereira, WU, 6-0, 6-2

Order of Finish: 1, 3, 4, 2, 5, 6

Doubles
1. Stojic/Zubori, USC, def. Alkema/Zaytseva, WU, 8-2
2. Andersson/Saari-Bystöm, USC, def. Herrera/Portioli, WU, 8-3
3. Jocic/Morgina, USC, def. Pereira/Wilkinson, WU, 8-4

Order of Finish: 1, 2, 3