Oct. 29, 2005

Columbia, S.C. – The South Carolina women’s tennis squad defended its home court for the second straight day on Saturday in Columbia, placing four of their players in singles flight finals, along with a doubles squad in their flight final. Sophomore Megan McGavock and redshirt sophomore Grace Blakely both advanced in their respective flights, while freshmen Gira Schofield and Natasa Vuckovic teamed up to advance to not only the final of the top doubles flight, but each also moved on to the finals in the top two singles flights, respectively.

Blakely and Vuckovic both picked up two singles wins on the day, while Schofield and McGavock earned one win after picking up two victories on Friday. In the B2 flight, Blakely easily defeated S. Alfonzo (Campbell) 6-2, 6-4 in the morning and came back to earn a 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 win over USC Upstate’s S. Hernandez in the semifinals. Also competing in a “B” flight was McGavock, who advanced to the B1 final with a 6-2, 6-7, 6-1 victory over Neils Barringer of N.C. State.

At the Maxcy-Gregg Tennis Center in the “A” flights, Vuckovic and Schofield both advanced into their finals, though they did it in much different ways. Schofield’s only match was defaulted to her when Armstrong Atlantic’s Stupok was injured. However, Vuckovic did not have it as easy, as she was taken to a third set by Elin Johansson, also of N.C. State, before winning 6-3, 1-6, 6-4. The native of Serbia and Montenegro moved on to the final after S.C. State’s Burisev was forced to retire with an injury in the first set.

Vuckovic and Schofield put themselves in the A-1 doubles final with an 8-5 win over Brenau’s Macchi and Gyoreova. They will take on NC State’s Barbara Orlay and Julia Roach in the flight final on Sunday afternoon.

The tournament will wrap up on Sunday, with matches being contested at three sites. The Maxcy-Gregg Tennis Center (USC women’s courts), the Sam Daniels Tennis Center (USC men’s courts) and the Columbia Tennis Center will play host to the main draw and consolation matches on Sunday. The Gamecocks will then wrap up their fall season when they take part in the SEC Fall Coaches Classic in Peach Tree, Ga. next weekend, Nov. 4-6.