No. 3 Carolina Wins Big on Senior Day, 4-0, Against No. 43 Alabama

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina senior Paige Cline clinched Carolina’s, 4-0, victory of Alabama on Senior Day the Carolina Tennis Center on Sunday afternoon.
 
Holding a, 3-0, lead No. 27 Cline was working to close out the match for the No. 3-ranked Gamecocks (16-3, 11-1 SEC) over No. 43 Alabama (16-10, 4-7 SEC). Cline controlled her first set against Moka Ito, taking it, 6-2, on court two. In the second set, Cline came back from being down, 3-2, and claimed four-straight games for a, 6-2, 6-3, victory.
 
“The girls fought really hard (Sunday),” head coach Kevin Epley said. “I think they had the seniors in mind. Mia (Horvit) played probably the best tennis she’s played all year. It was sort of a bittersweet day – last home match. We were a little nervous about it because Alabama has been playing better. They (Alabama) competed really hard and they had good energy. We stepped up, were very competitive and didn’t take Alabama lightly. We’re proud of the girls and very proud of the seniors.”
 
In doubles, sophomores Megan Davies and Kennedy Wicker kicked things off with a quick, 6-2, win opposite of Ann Selim and Kim Gintrand, at the No. 3 position.
 
Playing on court two, Cline and Rachel Rohrabacher dropped their match, 6-2, to Alba Contina-Pou and Luca Fabian, leaving all eyes at the No. 1 spot.
 
No. 2-ranked Ingrid Martins and Mia Horvit broke loose from a, 2-2, tie, taking their match at the top spot against Andie Daniell and Ito, 6-2, securing the doubles point for Carolina.
 
With momentum from a solid doubles win, Wicker stormed through her No. 6 singles match, not allowing Selim a single game, for a, 6-0, 6-0, victory.
 
On court three, No. 96 Horvit faced off against Corina-Pou. In the first set, Horvit dropped just two games, earning a, 6-2, first-set win. Horvit then finished off her Tide opponent, 6-1, in the second set. Her, 6-2, 6-1, victory gave South Carolina the, 3-0, advantage over Alabama.
 
Needing only one more match to clinch the overall, Cline downed Ito, 6-2, 6-3, for the Gamecocks’ ninth 4-0 win of the season and their fourth-straight blanking of an opponent.
 
Next, Carolina closes out the regular season at Florida on Saturday, April 13 at 10 a.m., ET.
 
Continue to check back with gamecocksonline.com for more updates or follow the team on social media (@GamecockWTennis).