No. 10 South Carolina Hosts No. 31 Arkansas in Return to SEC Play
COLUMBIA, S.C. – No. 10 South Carolina men’s tennis (10-6, 5-3 SEC) returns to SEC play this weekend at the Carolina Tennis Center. The Gamecocks will face No. 31 Arkansas (8-7, 2-3 SEC) on Sun., Mar. 28, at 10 a.m.
Gamecock Notables
- The Gamecocks moved up to No. 10 in the Oracle/ITA Rankings this week, along with multiple jumps in singles rankings. This ranking is the team’s highest since being ranked No. 10 in February 2006.
- South Carolina has a 4-2 record at home this spring, including a 3-1 mark in SEC matches.
- No. 3 Daniel Rodrigues and No. 70 Toby Samuel have accounted for 22 of the Gamecocks’ 48 dual-match singles victories, recording 11 each.
- South Carolina is 26-17 in SEC singles play this season, including a 14-7 singles SEC record at home.
- No. 79 Connor Thomson has clinched the match for the Gamecocks five times.
- The top three doubles teams all have at least 12 wins this season, and doubles pair Toby Samuel and Jake Beasley continues to lead the Gamecocks with an 18-9 overall record.
- All three of the starting doubles teams are coming off of wins in their last results.
The Arkansas Series
- South Carolina is 21-11 all time against Arkansas. Under head coach Josh Goffi, the Gamecocks are 9-1, winning five of those matches in Columbia. The Gamecocks are 13-2 at home against the Razorbacks.
- The SEC rivals last met in 2019 in Fayetteville, Ark., where the Razorbacks claimed the 5-2 win.
Scouting the Razorbacks
- The Razorbacks are 2-3 in SEC play after most recently upsetting then-No. 12. Texas A&M 4-3.
- Arkansas will play matches against No. 26 UCF and No. 2 Florida before the match against No. 14 South Carolina.
- Overall, Arkansas is 8-7, including a 1-3 record in away matches.
- The Razorbacks boast 11 returners on their roster of 13 and are led by head coach Andy Jackson, who is in his eighth year in the position.
Rankings Roundup
No. 10 South Carolina
Singles
No. 3 Daniel Rodrigues
No. 70 Toby Samuel
No. 79 Connor Thomson
No. 87 Raphael Lambling
Doubles
No. 34 Daniel Rodrigues / Connor Thomson
No. 71 Raphael Lambling / Phillip Jordan
No. 31 Arkansas
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