Feb. 18, 2007

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina’s women’s tennis team moved to 5-0 this season with a 7-0 triumph over South Carolina State on Sunday at the USC Field House in Columbia, S.C. The Bulldogs saw their record drop to 1-2 with the loss.

The doubles matches were over in less than 45 minutes, as the Gamecocks surrendered just one game between the three contests. Laura Ganzer and Miranda Gutierrez registered an 8-1 victory against Rocio Juarez and Anna Subenkova to finish first on court three. Christyn Lucas and Natasa Vuckovic then downed Gisel Brito and Vesna Popac at the No. 2 position, and Gira Schofield and Ana Marija Zubori ended the doubles with a win over Mirian Cruz and Marcela Rodezno at one doubles.

Things did not get easier for the Bulldogs in singles. After the first four matches finished, the Gamecocks gave South Carolina State just five games. Zubori and McGavock were both 6-0, 6-0 winners playing one and four singles versus Cruz and Brito. Vuckovic provided USC’s fourth point by ousting Rodezno 6-1, 6-1 at the second slot.

Ganzer took care of Popac playing the No. 3 spot to put South Carolina on top 5-0. The remaining two matches saw Gutierrez score a 6-1, 6-1 triumph from Iveta Blodniece at five singles, and Lucas posted a 6-0, 6-1 decision against Juarez at six.

“We’ve got some tough matches coming up,” Gamecock head coach Arlo Elkins said. “We took care of business today, and I was glad to see that happen. Of the five matches we’ve played, four were against NCAA teams from last year, and now we’re ready to step up the level of competition we face to an even higher degree.”

The Gamecocks return to action Saturday playing at N.C. State at noon before taking on rival Clemson the next day at 2 p.m. on the Tigers’ home courts.

#33 South Carolina (5-0) def. South Carolina State (1-2), 7-0

Singles
1. Ana Marija Zubori, USC, def. Mirian Cruz, SCSU, 6-0, 6-0
2. Natasa Vuckovic, USC, def. Marcela Rodezno, SCSU, 6-1, 6-1
3. Laura Ganzer, USC, def. Vesna Popac, SCSU, 6-0, 6-3
4. Megan McGavock, USC, def. Gisel Brito, SCSU, 6-0, 6-0
5. Miranda Gutierrez, USC, def. Iveta Blodniece, SCSU, 6-1, 6-1
6. Christyn Lucas, USC, def. Rocio Juarez, SCSU, 6-0, 6-1

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

Doubles
1. Gira Schofield/Zubori, USC, def. Cruz/Rodezno, SCSU, 8-0
2. Lucas/Vuckovic, USC, def. Brito/Popac, SCSU, 8-0
3. Ganzer/Gutierrez, USC, def. Juarez/Anna Subenkova, SCSU, 8-1

Order of finish: 3, 2, 1