Nov. 6, 2005

Athens, Ga. – The South Carolina men’s tennis team wrapped-up its fall schedule on Sunday at the final day of the Bulldog Scramble in Athens, Ga. Redshirt freshman Thomas Stoddard picked up his first singles win of 2005-06, defeating Brad Benedict of Georgia in straight sets at the Dan Magill Tennis Center on the campus of UGA.

Stoddard, a Greenwood native, had little problem with Benedict on Sunday, taking 12 of the 13 games played in a 6-1, 6-0 win over the Georgia sophomore. Carolina struggled elsewhere however, with senior Kazuya Otani dropping a 6-4, 6-1 match to Kentucky freshman Shane Collins and sophomore Joe Veeder being shutout by UK senior Carey Rubin.

In doubles, Stoddard and senior Geraldo Knorr suffered their second straight 8-6 defeat, this time to Georgia’s Ricardo Gonzalez and Josh Varela.

The Gamecocks will take a break from competition for the remainder of the fall semester. In January, Carolina opens its 2006 spring season at the SEC Coaches Indoor Championships, being hosted by the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Ky. The event runs from Jan. 20-23 and is the final individual tournament before dual matches begin.

USC Results:

Singles:
Thomas Stoddard (SC) d. Brad Benedict (G), 6-1, 6-0
Carey Rubin (K) d. Joe Veeder (SC), 6-0, 6-0
Shane Collins (K) d. Kazuya Otani (SC), 6-4, 6-1

Doubles:
Gonzalez/Varela (G) d. Knorr/Stoddard (SC) 8-6