March 25, 2007
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — South Carolina shut out Arkansas 7-0 in women’s tennis action Sunday in Fayetteville, Ark. It was the Gamecocks’ fifth victory in a row and upped their record to 13-3 in 2007 and 5-1 against SEC opponents. The Lady Razorbacks dipped to 7-8 overall and remained winless in the league at 0-6.
Laura Ganzer and Vanessa Pinto rolled past Melissa Hoffmeister and Rachel Wilhelm at No. 3 doubles by an 8-2 score to get the day started for Carolina. Nanar Airapetian and Maryori Franco answered for Arkansas by downing the No. 18-rated duo of Gira Schofield and Ana Marija Zubori 8-6 at the top slot. The Gamecocks managed to sneak away with the point when Christyn Lucas and Natasa Vuckovic beat Audrey Bordeleau and Ela Kaluder 7-5 in a tiebreaker on court 2.
Vuckovic wasted no time putting her team on top 2-0 by upending Bordeleau 6-1, 6-0 at No. 4 singles. The win raised Vuckovic’s dual-match record to 14-2 in 2007 while making her 18-5 overall. She is currently riding a nine-match unbeaten streak and is 6-0 in league matches.
Schofield scored South Carolina’s third point with a 6-2, 6-1 triumph over No. 25 Kaluder at one singles. It was Schofield’s first victory of the season against a top-25 opponent and the third of the sophomore’s career.
Ganzer clinched the match for the Gamecocks with a 7-6(1), 6-0 decision against Hoffmeister on court 6. Pinto went on to defeat Airapetian 6-3, 6-3 at the third spot, followed by Zubori’s 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 win versus Franco at two. Lucas completed the singles sweep for Carolina by scores of 2-6, 6-0, 6-2 playing Wilhelm at No. 6 singles.
South Carolina returns home for its next two SEC contests, beginning Friday with Auburn at 2 p.m. at Maxcy Gregg Tennis Center. The Tigers are coming off a stunning upset of No. 1 Georgia two days ago. The Gamecocks then host Alabama on Sunday at 1 p.m.
#34 South Carolina (13-3, 5-1 SEC) def. #52 Arkansas (7-8, 0-6 SEC), 7-0
Singles
1. #118 Gira Schofield, USC, def. #25 Ela Kaluder, UA, 6-2, 6-1
2. Ana Marija Zubori, USC, def. Maryori Franco, UA, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2
3. Vanessa Pinto, USC, def. Nanar Airapetian, UA, 6-3, 6-3
4. #125 Natasa Vuckovic, USC, def. Audrey Bordeleau, UA, 6-1, 6-0
5. Christyn Lucas, USC, def. Rachel Wilhelm, UA, 2-6, 6-0, 6-2
6. Laura Ganzer, USC, def. Melissa Hoffmeister, UA, 7-6(1), 6-0
Order of finish: 4, 1, 6, 3, 2, 5
Doubles
1. Airapetian/Franco, UA, def. #18 Schofield/Zubori, USC, 8-6
2. Lucas/Vuckovic, USC, def. Bordeleau/Kaluder, UA, 9-8(5)
3. Ganzer/Pinto, USC, def. Hoffmeister/Wilhelm, UA, 8-2
Order of finish: 3, 1, 2
