Feb. 10, 2007

Columbia, S.C. – The South Carolina men’s tennis team defeated Charlotte, 7-0, Saturday at the USC Indoor Fieldhouse, earning its third shut out of the year. Gamecock junior Yevgeny Supeko knocked off the nation’s No. 39 player Roy Sichel, at No. 1 singles to lead Carolina to its fifth win of the season.

South Carolina improved to 5-0 with the win over the Charlotte 49ers, the first of two matches held Saturday at the USC Indoor Fieldhouse. Charlotte’s record fell to 6-3.

South Carolina clinched the doubles point after taking two of three matches. Playing at No. 1 doubles were Yevgeny Supeko and Pedro Campos. The Gamecocks began with a 3-0 lead before Charlotte’s Darren Mansell and Ryan Johnson rallied to tie the pro set at five all. The Gamecocks came back to win the match, 8-6. At No. 2 doubles, South Carolina’s Pedro Rodrigues and Ivan Cressoni got off to a quick 5-2 lead over Roy Sichel and Dorian Host and never looked back, sealing the doubles point for the Gamecocks with the 8-3 victory. Charlotte’s Felix Bernhoerster and Brad Clinard defeated South Carolina’s Thomas Stoddard and David Wolff, 8-6, in No. 3 doubles.

South Carolina took a 1-0 lead into the singles matches. Carolina took a 2-0 lead as Campos cruised to a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Charlotte’s Mansel at No. 2 singles. In the No. 3 spot, USC’s Cressoni routed Johnson 6-0, 7-5.

By defeating Aljocha Jelinek, 6-4, 6-2, in the No. 4 singles match, Wolff clinched the win for the Gamecocks. Minutes later, Supeko defeated No. 39 Sichel 6-4, 6-2, at the top spot. This marks the second time this season that Supeko has faced Sichel. At the USC Invitational this past fall, Supeko came away with a hard fought 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3 victory.

Carolina freshman Spencer Feldman topped Host 6-2, 6-4, in the No. 5 spot to advance the Carolina lead to 6-0. To secure the shut out, Stoddard earned a 6-4, 6-4, win over Ricky Cuellar of the 49ers.

South Carolina 7, Charlotte 0
Doubles
No. 1 Supeko/Campos (USC) def. Mansell/Johnson (Char), 8-6
No. 2 Rodrigues/Cressoni (USC) def. Sichel/Host (Char), 8-3
No. 3 Berhoerster/Clinard (Char) def. Stoddard/Wolff (USC), 8-6

Order of finish: 1, 2, 3

Singles
No. 1 Yevgeny Supeko (USC) def. #39 Roy Sichel (Char), 6-4, 6-1
No. 2 Pedro Campos (USC) def. Darren Mansell (Char), 6-1, 6-1
No. 3 Ivan Cressoni (USC) def. Ryan Johnson (Char), 6-0, 7-5
No. 4 David Wolff (USC) def. Aljoscha Jelinek (Char), 6-4, 6-2
No. 5 Spencer Feldman (USC) def. Dorian Host (Char), 6-2, 6-4
No. 6 Thomas Stoddard (USC) def. Ricky Cuellar (Char), 6-4, 6-4

Order of finish: 2, 3, 4*, 1, 5, 6

* Clinched match