Men's Tennis . January 29, 2023

Gamecocks Punch Ticket to ITA Indoor Nationals

Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina men’s tennis defeated NC State 4-0 on Sunday to earn their spot at the ITA National Men’s Team Indoor Championships. The Gamecocks took the doubles point and three straight singles matches for their fifth victory of the season.

South Carolina was dominant in doubles play with the nation’s No. 1 pair Toby Samuel and Connor Thomson storming through their match 6-1. It was Jake Beasley and James Story who clinched the doubles point for the team, picking up a break on their opponents second service game and holding the lead throughout to serve out their match 6-4.

Play moved to singles where South Carolina made quick work of NC State. Samuel was the first to clear his court, defeating Martins Rocens in unrelenting fashion, 6-1, 6-1 from the top spot in the lineup. The junior is now 4-0 from the No. 1 position this season.

Beasley was the next to put a point on the board for the home team. He breezed to a 6-0 first set win over Martin Borisiouk and came back to take the second set 6-3 for the victory.

Thomson clinched the match for South Carolina, marking his fourth consecutive match clinch. The reigning SEC Player of the Week earned a late break in the first set to take it 6-4 over Robin Catry, before flying through his second set 6-2 for the win. Thomson is now on a nine-match singles win streak dating back through tournament play.

South Carolina has officially clinched a spot at the ITA Indoors that will take place Feb. 17-20 in Chicago, Ill., at the XS Tennis Village. This will be the team’s third appearance at the event in the last four seasons.

The Gamecocks will join fellow SEC teams from Kentucky, Tennessee and Florida at the event. Other teams who have earned their tickets to Chicago include Texas, TCU, Michigan, North Carolina, Virginia, Ohio State, Baylor, Wake Forest, and host Illinois. The remainder of the field will be set by Monday, Jan. 30.

The Gamecocks will continue dual action before the Indoor National Championships, hitting the road to take on Clemson on Fri., Feb. 3 at 5 p.m., followed by trips to Georgia Tech and Wake Forest.

For all the latest South Carolina men’s tennis information, continue to follow GamecocksOnline.com or the team on social media (@GamecockMTennis).

(8) South Carolina 4, NC State 0

Doubles (order of finish: 1, 2)

#1 Toby Samuel/Connor Thomson (SC) def. Robin Catry/Luca Staeheli (NCST) 6-1
Jake Beasley/James Story (SC) def. #38 Fons Van Sambeek/Martins Rocens (NCST) 6-4
Raphael Lambling/Casey Hoole (SC) vs. Braden Shick/Martin Borisiouk (NCST) 4-3, unfinished

Singles (order of finish: 1, 6, 2)