Gamecocks Breeze Past Tigers 6-1

Columbia, S.C. – ­No. 24 South Carolina women’s tennis dominated in-state rival Clemson on Wednesday, defeating the Tigers 6-1. Prosperity, S.C., native Elise Mills delivered the match clinch in a storybook ending for the graduate.

The Gamecocks were under a new leadership structure for the rivalry match with assistant coach Axel Damiens assuming the head position as head coach Kevin Epley missed the match due to illness.

In doubles, play was all Gamecocks with all three matches going in the home team’s favor. At the No. 3 position, Mills and Sarah Hamner paired up for the first time in dual action this season and were unstoppable, never allowing the Tigers on the board to win 6-0.

The doubles point was clinched at the top of the lineup where No. 27 Ayana Akli and Olympe Lancelot were also dominating their match, claiming it 6-2 to keep the doubles point with the home team.

In singles, the Gamecocks handled the Tigers with ease with all five of the top positions winning in straight sets. At the top of the lineup, No. 3 Akli won 6-1, 6-1, followed by No. 4 Hamner winning 6-2, 6-2 from the No. 2 position.

The match was clinched by Mills who defeated Clemson’s Leigh Van Zyl on Court 5. The South Carolina native returned for her fifth year this season and wrapped up her final rivalry match by delivering the win 6-2, 6-3.

Remaining matches finished with No. 108 Shahar Biran and Misa Malkin each putting another point on the board with both Gamecocks recording straight set wins.

The Tigers lone point came from Court 6 where Lancelot fell to Alexandra Anttila 6-3, 2-6, 10-7.

South Carolina’s women’s tennis team will be in action next on the road, heading to Winston-Salem, N.C., to take on Wake Forest. The match will be on Sat., Feb. 17 at 11:00 a.m.

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

South Carolina 6, Clemson 1

Doubles (order of finish: 3, 1)

1. #27 Ayana Akli/Olympe Lancelot (SC) def. Jenna Thompson/Eleni Louka (CU) 6-2
2. Shahar Biran/Misa Malkin (SC) vs. Cristina Mayorova/Leigh Van Zyl (CU) 5-2, unfinished
3. Sarah Hamner/Elise Mills (SC) def. Sophia Hatton/Alina Tsyurpalevych (CU) 6-0

Singles (order of finish: 1, 2, 5, 3, 4, 6)

1. #3 Ayana Akli (SC) def. Eleni Louka (CU) 6-1, 6-1
2. #4 Sarah Hamner (SC) def. Cristina Mayorova (CU) 6-2, 6-2
3. #108 Shahar Biran (SC) def. Jenna Thompson (CU) 6-3, 6-4
4. Misa Malkin (SC) def. Sophia Hatton (CU) 6-3, 6-2
5. Elise Mills (SC) def. Leigh Van Zyl (CU) 6-2, 6-3
6. Alexandra Anttila (CU) def. Olympe Lancelot (SC) 6-3, 2-6, 1-0 (10-7)