March 1, 2004

COLUMBIA, S.C. –
The No. 22 South Carolina Gamecocks will take on their neighbors to the north, the No. 38 North Carolina Tar Heels in a battle of the two state’s premier tennis teams at 2 p.m. at the Sam Daniel Tennis Facility. This will mark the 32nd meeting between the two nationally ranked teams.

No. 22 South Carolina puts their undefeated mark on the line, entering with a record of 10-0. The Gamecocks are currently one of two teams in the Southeastern Conference – the only in the Eastern Division – that is still undefeated. In USC’s lone match against a ranked opponent, the Gamecocks topped the 38th ranked Division II Patriots of Francis Marion.

No. 38 North Carolina brings a 9-1 record into the match and the Tar Heels are 1-1 against ranked opponents. Their only loss came at the hands of then fifth ranked Virginia Commonwealth at home (5-2), but notched a big victory with a 5-2 win at Georgia, who was ranked 14th at the time.

North Carolina leads the all-time series 17-14 but South Carolina has taken the past two meetings. South Carolina notched a 4-2 victory in Chapel Hill last year, their second straight win over their neighbors to the north.

Both teams begin conference play this weekend as No. 22 South Carolina hosts No. 14 Kentucky on Friday at 2 p.m. at the Sam Daniel Tennis Facility. USC then travels to No. 25 Vanderbilt Sunday to take on the Commodores at 1 p.m. (CT). No. 38 North Carolina heads up I-26 to take on No. 26 Clemson Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Hoke Sloan Tennis Center.