South Carolina Falls to Mississippi State 4-3

STARKVILLE, MISS. – No. 14 South Carolina men’s tennis dropped a 4-3 decision at No. 24 Mississippi State on Friday. After the Bulldogs took the doubles point, the Gamecocks battled back but could not secure enough points in singles play to take home the win.
 
In singles, Bruno Oliveira made his South Carolina debut in the No. 6 spot. The true freshman fought hard but could not top Mississippi State’s Gregor Ramskogler who won in straight sets for a 2-0 Bulldog advantage.
 
True freshman Toby Samuel cut the Gamecocks’ deficit in half with a straight-set win in the No. 4 spot, but Mississippi State kept the momentum, claiming wins in the Nos. 3 and 5 positions to win the match.
 
Play continued on Courts 1 and 2, and both matches featured a super tiebreak. No. 118 Connor Thomson played in the No. 2 spot for the third time this season. In the third-set super tiebreak, he created an early lead over Mississippi State’s No. 36 Giovanni Ordini. Ordini closed to 7-7, but Thomson delivered on the next three points to win 1-0 (7) to remain undefeated in hiss nine tiebreak sets this season.
 
At the top of the lineup, No. 32 Daniel Rodrigues had a slow start, dropping his first set 6-4. He bounced back in the second, winning 7-6 (5), and carried that momentum into the super tiebreak, in which he held off No. 87 Florian Broska of the Bulldogs to win 1-0 (5).
 
The Gamecocks will travel to Oxford, Miss., to face No. 19 Ole Miss on Sun., Mar. 14, at 2 p.m. ET. 
 
For all the latest South Carolina men’s tennis information, continue to follow GamecocksOnline.com or the team on social media (@GamecockMTennis).
 
 
(24) Mississippi State def. (14) South Carolina 4-3
Doubles (Order of Finish: 2, 3, 1*)
1. Florian Broska / Gregor Ramskogler (MSU) def. (44) Daniel Rodrigues / Connor Thomson (SC) 7-6 (2)
2. Toby Samuel / Jake Beasley (SC) def. Davide Tortora / Nemanja Malesevic (MSU) 6-0
3. Giovanni Ordini / Alberto Colas (MSU) def. (59) Raphael Lambling / Phillip Jordan (SC) 6-1
 
Singles (Order of Finish: 6, 4, 3, 5*, 2, 1)
1. (32) Daniel Rodrigues (SC) def. (87) Florian Broska (MSU) 4-6, 7-6 (5), 1-0 (5)
2. (118) Connor Thomson (SC) def. (36) Giovanni Ordini (MSU) 7-5, 3-6, 1-0 (7)
3. Nemanja Malesevic (MSU) def. (81) Raphael Lambling (SC) 1-6, 6-0, 6-1
4. Toby Samuel (SC) def. Alberto Colas (MSU) 6-3, 7-5
5. Carles Hernandez (MSU) def. Jake Beasley (SC) 6-4, 7-5
6. Gregor Ramskogler (MSU) def. Bruno Oliveira (SC) 6-1, 6-2