Cox Closes SEC Fall Classic in Consolation Semifinals

Sept. 22, 2013

NASHVILLE – South Carolina men’s tennis wrapped up play at the SEC Fall Classic Sunday at Vanderbilt’s Currey Tennis Center as senior Chip Cox fell just short of the final of the singles consolation bracket. The Gamecocks closed the tournament with 12 singles victories, highlighted by Tsvetan Mihov’s march into the singles main draw quarterfinals. In doubles play, Cox and Kyle Koch paced the team with a spot in the main draw semifinals.

“Today was a great ending to a great tournament for our team,” South Carolina head coach Josh Goffi said. “All of our guys had to fight through a lot of tough spots in their matches this weekend. Some guys got the payoff and some didn’t, but regardless of the outcome, each one gained invaluable experience from their matches that will pus them and the team forward.”

Cox took the court Sunday looking for his third-straight victory of the tournament, facing Florida’s Elliott Orkin for a spot in the final against Maxx Lipman, also of Florida. Orkin took the first set 6-4, and Cox kept the pressure on in the second. The two battled to a tiebreak with the Gators’ freshman picking up the 7-6 (3) victory.

South Carolina will next take the court in the ITA All-American championships. Pre-qualifying begins on Sept. 28, in Tulsa, Okla. The team will wait to find out which Gamecocks have been selected to join Cox and Koch, who earned a spot in the doubles main draw by virtue of winning the ITA National Collegiate Summer Championships in August.