Men’s Tennis Takes Doubles Point, Falls to No. 2 Virginia
Charlottesville, Va. – No. 16 South Carolina men’s tennis postseason run came to a conclusion on Friday evening with a loss at No. 2 Virginia. The Gamecocks took the doubles point but were unable to tally any singles points before the Cavaliers clinched the match 4-1.
After pushing the match back due to weather and experiencing a pair of mid-match pauses for rain, South Carolina’s No. 3 team of Sean Daryabeigi and Casey Hoole were first to tally a win. The pair completed a near-shutout, only allowing their opponents one game in the 6-1 victory.
Shortly after, the Cavaliers evened things up by taking the No. 1 doubles match. No. 43 Toby Samuel and James Story fell to Chris Rodesch and Jeffrey von der Schulenburg 6-4.
The doubles point decision fell to the No. 2 court where the freshman/sophomore duo of Jelani Sarr and Lucas Andrade da Silva were taking on the gradate pair of Edoardo Graziani and James Hopper. The Cavaliers had first serve and each pair held through the first six games when Sarr and da Silva were finally able to claim a break to take a 4-3 lead. The two were able to hold the lead to the end, winning the match 6-4 to clinch the doubles point.
In singles play, all momentum sided with the home team with Virginia claiming first sets on four of the six courts.
The Cavaliers were finally able to put a point on the board and even things at 1-1 with a win on Court 6 where da Silva was bested by Mans Dahlberg 6-1, 7-5.
Virginia was able to take the lead with No. 33 Inaki Montes defeating No. 101 Casey Hoole 6-3, 7-5 from Court 2.
No. 52 Dylan Dietrich was the next to claim a singles point in three sets over No. 97 Story. The Gamecock took the first set 6-2 but Dietrich took the next two sets 6-1 and 6-2 to win the match.
At the No. 5 position, Sarr, a freshman, was on his way to a win over senior Alexander Kiefer after leading 7-5, 5-4. The Gamecock was serving for the match at 40-15 but was unable to tally the win as Virginia clinched the match from Court 4 where Daryabeigi fell to No. 61 Schulenburg.
The Super Regional loss marks the conclusion of the dual season for the team. Samuel and Hoole will represent the program next at the NCAA Singles and Doubles Tournaments that will begin on May 20 in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
For all the latest South Carolina men’s tennis information, continue to follow GamecocksOnline.com or the team on social media (@GamecockMTennis).
#2 Virginia 4, #16 South Carolina 1
Doubles (order of finish: 3, 1, 2)
- Chris Rodesch/J vd Schulenburg (VA) def. #43 Toby Samuel/James Story (SC) 6-4
- Jelani Sarr/Lucas da Silva (SC) def. Edoardo Graziani/James Hopper (VA) 6-4
- Sean Daryabeigi/Casey Hoole (SC) def. Dylan Dietrich/Alexander Kiefer (VA) 6-1
Singles (order of finish: 6, 2, 3, 4)
- #3 Chris Rodesch (VA) vs. #6 Toby Samuel (SC) 6-3, 4-6, unfinished
- #33 Inaki Montes (VA) def. #101 Casey Hoole (SC) 6-3, 7-5
- #52 Dylan Dietrich (VA) def. #97 James Story (SC) 2-6, 6-1, 6-2
- #61 J vd Schulenburg (VA) def. Sean Daryabeigi (SC) 7-5, 6-3
- Alexander Kiefer (VA) vs. Jelani Sarr (SC) 5-7, unfinished
- Mans Dahlberg (VA) def. Lucas da Silva (SC) 6-1, 7-5
