Gamecocks Make it Seven Straight Over Tigers

CLEMSON, S.C. — The 18th-ranked South Carolina women’s tennis team posted its seventh consecutive victory over Clemson on Thursday at The Duckworth Family Tennis Facility in Clemson, S.C.

The Gamecocks snapped a two-match skid and improved to 3-2 with the victory while the Tigers dropped to 2-1 this year.

Doubles Recap

South Carolina got off to a strong start with solid doubles play across the board. On court three, Ana Cruz teamed with Allie Gretkowski for the first time and the duo managed to take home a 6-4 win from Cristina Mayorova and Sophia Hatton. Cruz upped her spring mark in doubles to 3-1 in the process, while Gretkowski is now 3-2.

At two, Emma Shelton and Silvia Chinellato also teamed up for the first time this spring despite being ranked No. 20 nationally and registered a 6-2 victory on court two over Mackenzy Middlebrooks and Jenna Thompson to clinch the point for South Carolina. Chinellato and Shelton are 4-3 together for the 2020-21 season.

The Gamecocks’ No. 29-ranked tandem of Mia Horvit and Megan Davies had their match on court one versus Eleni Louka and Makayla Mills suspended once the point was decided. Horvit and Davies had a 5-4 lead.

Singles Recap

Megan Davies, ranked 30th, made quick work of Mackenzy Middlebrooks on court two to keep things rolling for the Gamecocks. She won 11 games in a row before Middlebrooks held serve for 5-1 in the second set, but Davies held in the next game to score the 6-0, 6-1 win and improve to 2-1 this spring.

Silvia Chinellato finished soon afterward with a 6-2, 6-0 win at the No. 4 spot over Sophia Hatton to put the Gamecocks ahead 3-0. Chinellato is 3-2 this spring and has won two matches in a row.

Clemson got on the board next with Jenna Thompson upending No. 93 Emma Shelton at three singles in straight sets 6-4, 6-3. Moments later, however, Ana Cruz provided the clinching point for South Carolina by finishing off Lana Sipek 6-1, 6-2 to move her record to 3-1 this spring.

No. 34 Mia Horvit had a 6-4, 3-2 lead on Eleni Louka on court one when play was stopped following Cruz’s win. At five, Allie Gretkowski lost the first set to Cristina Mayorova 6-3 but won the second by the same count and the two were tied 1-all in the third set.

Notes

• The Gamecocks’ seven consecutive victories over the Tigers are the most by either team in the series. South Carolina has outscored Clemson by a 35-7 margin during this stretch.
• South Carolina now leads the all-time series over Clemson 30-27 and is 11-15 when facing the Tigers in the Upstate.
• Despite being ranked No. 20, the Gamecocks’ duo of Emma Shelton and Silvia Chinellato played their first match together this spring and clinched today’s doubles point.
• Megan Davies, ranked 30th, won 11 games in a row to begin her match before surrendering a game at No. 2 singles.
• Clemson is the Gamecocks’ third ACC opponent in a row, as they previously played NC State and Georgia Tech.
• Ana Cruz clinched the win for South Carolina at No. 6 singles, the first clinching victory of her career.

Up Next

South Carolina stays on the road for its next match, taking on its fourth straight ACC opponent in No. 14 Virginia on Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Boar’s Head Sports Club in Charlottesville, Va.