March 24, 2004

COLUMBIA, S.C. –

Tennessee, Georgia Weekend Notes in PDF Format
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SCOUTING REPORT
South Carolina (11-6, 0-4 SEC) takes to the road this week as they face No. 21 Tennessee (9-4, 2-2 SEC) and the No. 12 Georgia Bulldogs (9-3, 2-2 SEC). Friday kicks off the action in Knoxville, Tenn., when the Gamecocks meet up against the Volunteers at 5 p.m. under the lights. The Volunteers split last Sunday falling on the road to Ole Miss then topping Miss. State in Starkville. Sunday Carolina heads to Athens, Ga., to take on the Bulldogs at 2 p.m. Georgia hosts Florida Friday at 5 p.m.

Gamecocks Edged Out by Alabama, Auburn
South Carolina dropped two 4-3 decisions last weekend to Alabama and Auburn. In both matches, the ever-so-crucial doubles point has been the determining factor in the match.

Against No. 21 Tennessee Volunteers
Tennessee enters Friday’s match with a 9-4 record, going 2-2 in the SEC … South Carolina is 14-19 all-time vs. UT … Carolina beat the Vols last year 4-2 in Columbia, stopping a three-year, four match UT winning streak … UT is 3-2 vs. common opponents this year with a 6-1 victory over Charleston being the only non-conference common opponent to face Tennesee.

Against No. 12 Georgia Bulldogs
USC is 5-21 all-time against the Bulldogs … USC and UGA met up twice last year, a 5-2 Carolina victory during the regular season in Columbia and a 4-1 UGA win in the SEC Tournament … The 5-2 victory last year stopped a Georgia 10-match, eight year winning streak over the Garnet and Black.

HEAD COACH Kent DeMars
Career Record: 520-278 (.652), 31 years
Record at USC: 306-207 (.596), 20 years

Entering his 20th year at the helm of the Carolina men’s tennis program, Head Coach Kent DeMars recently reached his 300th win as the Gamecock coach. This milestone was achieved on Feb. 15 when USC topped the Charlotte 49ers, 7-0, in a regional match-up in Columbia. Just last year, Coach DeMars notched his 500th career win as a collegiate head coach as Carolina upended No. 36 Mississippi State in Starkville on Feb. 28, 4-3.

At USC, DeMars has guided teams to 10 consecutive NCAA bids, 17 appearances in 19 seasons, and a No. 14 average national ranking. He has been named Region II Coach of the Year seven times in the past 16 seasons and was the 1989 NCAA Division I Coach of the Year.