Jan. 28, 2005

Columbia, S.C. –
The USC men’s tennis team will open its 2005 team season this Saturday, with a doubleheader against the East Carolina Pirates and the UNC-Asheville Bulldogs. The Gamecocks are 29-2 all-time in season openers and have won 17 straight, dating back to a loss at UCLA in 1986. Carolina also brings a 104-37 all-time record against schools from the Tar Heel State into today’s matches. The matches are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. at the USC Indoor Tennis Facility, in the USC Field House.

The first match Saturday features USC against East Carolina, beginning at 10 a.m. Carolina leads the all-time series 3-0, with all three matches taking place in Columbia. USC won the last meeting, 5-0, in 1998. The two teams have met once before in the first match of the season, with the Gamecocks winning 4-0, in the 1997 opener.

In Saturday’s second match, scheduled for 2 p.m., Carolina will take on the Bulldogs of UNC-Asheville. USC and UNCA have never met before, however, USC has an even 18-18 record against schools in the UNC system (Chapel Hill, Greensboro, Wilmington).

USC was scheduled to open its season last weekend with a Sunday afternoon match against the Elon Phoenix. However, due to inclement traveling conditions in the Carolinas, Elon was unable to make the trip and the match was cancelled. The match has been rescheduled for Saturday, Feb. 12, at 1:30 p.m. at the USC Indoor Tennis Facility.

Carolina’s next match will be a doubleheader against Charlotte and Davidson next Sunday, February 6th, in Charlotte. USC’s next home matches will be Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 12-13. The Gamecocks will face Elon at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday and take on Wofford and Samford in a doubleheader Sunday beginning at 10 a.m.