Jan. 12, 2013
COLUMBIA, S.C. – No. 39 South Carolina defeated Presbyterian with a 4-0 victory Saturday afternoon at the USC Indoor Facility in the second half of a men’s tennis doubleheader. The Gamecocks secured the doubles point and went on to win the first three singles matches with Kyle Koch securing the final point.
In doubles, the No. 1 spot provided the first result as Tsvetan Mihov and Chip Cox defeated Rafael Berghaus and Grayson Mills 8-1. After each team won a game, the Gamecocks took the next seven for a powerful victory. Koch and Harry Menzies locked in the doubles point with an 8-2 victory over Gonzalo Asis and Andrew Brigham in the No. 2 match. The Gamecocks took an early 5-0 lead and, after the Blue Hose picked up two games, the South Carolina won three straight to get the win.
Cox added to the Gamecocks lead securing the first singles point from the No. 2 spot for the second time in as many matches, as he defeated Berghaus in two quick sets. In the first set Cox broke out in an early lead and never looked back, winning both sets 6-2.
Mihov was down to Mills early in the No. 1 match, but the Gamecock junior powered back to take the first set 6-2, punctuating the rally with an overhead on set point. He proved dominant in the second set, taking and early 4-0 lead and finishing with a 6-1 victory to put the Gamecocks up 3-0.
Koch clinched the Gamecock victory when he defeated Brigham in the No. 3 spot, 6-2, 6-4. Koch got an early service break and a 2-0 lead to breeze through the first set. The second set was tighter early until Koch picked up a break to go up 3-2 and held through his final service game to keep the Gamecocks perfect on the season.
With the team outcome settled, the other singles matches were suspended in progress. In the only other match to have finished a game, Thiago Pinheiro led Danny Bruce 6-3 in the No. 4 matchup.
South Carolina returns to action next Saturday in another doubleheader at the indoor facility. Play begins at 10 a.m. against Furman with the second half coming at 4 p.m. against Appalachian State.
#39 South Carolina 4, Presbyterian 0
Doubles (Order of Finish: 1, 2)
1. Chip Cox / Tsvetan Mihov (SC) def Rafael Berghaus / Grayson Mills (PC) 8-1
2. Kyle Koch / Harry Menzies (SC) def. Andrew Brigham / Gonzalo Asis (PC) 8-2
3. Ben Barnette / Thiago Pinheiro (SC) led Edward Snead / Nathan Crocker (PC) 6-3 suspended
Singles (Order of Finish: 2, 1, 3)
1. Tsvetan Mihov (SC) def Grayson Mills (PC) 6-2, 6-1
2. Chip Cox (SC) def. Rafael Berghaus 6-2, 6-2
3. Kyle Koch (SC) def. Andrew Brigham (PC) 6-2, 6-4
4. Thiago Pinheiro (SC) led Danny Bruce (PC) 6-3, suspended
