Shelton Earns First Dual-Match Victory
RALEIGH, N.C. – South Carolina women’s tennis freshman Emma Shelton notched the first dual-match win of her collegiate career in Carolina’s, 6-1, loss Saturday afternoon against N.C. State at the J.W. Isenhour Tennis Center.
Playing at the No. 4 position, Shelton faced off against the Wolfpacks’ Lexi Keberle. The two went back-and-forth in the first set with Keberle eventually coming out on top, 6-4. Shelton then controlled the second set, taking it, 6-2, and forcing a third set. In the final set, Shelton led Keberle, 5-3. Keberle threatened Shelton’s lead, making it, 5-4. Shelton finished off her opponent, winning, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, and claiming the Gamecocks’ lone point on the day.
“N.C. State outplayed us when it counted so they deserve a lot of credit across the board,” head coach Kevin Epley said. “There were a couple bright spots in the match and things that we can build on moving forward. Still, we didn’t quite look like ourselves, yet, and we’re going to have to remedy that quickly to get ready for ITA Kick Off Weekend.”
In doubles, Shelton and partner Mia Horvit played a close match with the nation’s No. 1-ranked tandem of Anna Rogers and Alana Smith on court one. Each side traded points up until Rogers and Smith held a, 5-4, lead. Although Shelton and Horvit held tough against the top-ranked duo, Rogers and Smith ended the match, 6-4.
No. 27 Horvit also went to three sets in a battle with No. 31-ranked Smith at the No. 1 spot. Smith won the first set of the match, 6-3, over Horvit. In the second set, Horvit jumped out to a, 5-2, lead. Smith would not go down without a fight, tying it, 5-5. Horvit rallied for two-straight games, defeating Smith, 7-5, and sending them to a third set. In a third set similar to the first, Smith closed out the match, winning, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3.
Competing on court three, Silvia Chinellato claimed the first set in her match with No. 23 Adriana Reami. Chinellato and Reami traded games before the Gamecock broke away from a, 3-3, tie, taking the first set, 6-3. Reami came back, though, and took the final two sets, 6-3, 6-3, topping Chinellato, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.
The Gamecocks are back in action as they host Georgia Tech, Purdue and Wisconsin for ITA Kick Off Weekend on Saturday, Jan. 25 and Sunday, Jan. 26 at the Carolina Tennis Center.
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