South Carolina Drops Tough 5-2 Decision to Oklahoma
NORMAN, OKLA. – South Carolina played a competitive match against No. 18 Oklahoma on Friday night in its first dual match of the season. Freshman No. 2 Sarah Hamner and junior Elise Mills earned points for the Gamecocks in the 5-2 loss.
In doubles, Oklahoma quickly claimed the win in the No. 1 spot but South Carolina fought back. Sarah Hamner and Kendall Couch played a close match in the No. 3 spot against Anchisa Chanta and Emma Staker. After tying things up 3-3, Hamner and Couch pulled ahead to earn the 6-3 win. Ultimately, Oklahoma took the doubles point with a 6-3 win in the No. 2 spot.
In singles, the Sooners notched the next two points to lead 3-0 but they would not go unanswered for long. At the top of the lineup, No. 2 Hamner efficiently won her first set 6-2 over No. 105 Carmen Corley. Hamner started the second set 3-0 and only allowed two games to claim the 6-2 win and the first point for the Gamecocks.
Not far behind was Elise Mills who came back from a 1-3 deficit against Marcelina Podlinska to take the first set 6-3. From there, Mills settled in to go up 4-1 in the second set. Podlinska inched back 4-2, but Mills pushed forward to win the next two games and earn the Gamecocks their second point. With two singles matches still in play, South Carolina trailed Oklahoma 3-2.
The final two matches went to three sets each. No. 28 Ayana Akli won her first set against No. 16 Layne Sleeth 6-4, but Sleeth came back to take the second set 6-1. Akli went ahead 3-0 in the third set but Sleeth tied things up at four games all. From there, Sleeth won the next two games to secure the 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 win clinched the match for Oklahoma.
In the No. 5 spot, Ana Cruz played out her match against Alexandra Pisareva. Each won one set 6-4, but Pisareva locked in to win the third set 6-0 to give Oklahoma the 5-2 win.
The Gamecocks will continue their weekend on the road on Sunday when they face Oklahoma State. Live stats for Sunday’s match can be found here and live video can be found here.
(18) Oklahoma def. South Carolina 5-2
Doubles (Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2*)
1. Carmen Corley / Ivana Corley (OU) def. No. 37 Megan Davies / Allie Gretkowski (SC) 6-1
2. Layne Sleeth / Pisareva (OU) def. Ayana Akli / Ana Cruz (SC) 6-3
3. Sarah Hamner / Kendall Couch (SC) def. Anchisa Chanta / Emma Staker (OU) 6-3
Singles (Order of Finish: 3, 4, 1, 6, 2*, 5)
1. No. 2 Sarah Hamner (SC) def. No. 105 Carmen Corley (OU) 6-2, 6-2
2. No. 16 Layne Sleeth (OU) def. No. 28 Ayana Akli (SC) 4-6, 6-1, 6-4
3. No. 83 Ivana Corley (OU) def. Allie Gretkowski (SC) 6-1, 6-0
4. Anchisa Chanta (OU) def. No. 118 Megan Davies (SC) 6-2, 6-0
5. Alexandra Pisareva (OU) def. Ana Cruz (SC) 4-6, 6-4, 6-0
6. Elise Mills (SC) def. Marcelina Podlinska (OU) 6-3, 6-2
