March 6, 2008

COLUMBIA, S.C. –

The 68th-ranked University of South Carolina men’s tennis team (7-4, 0-2 SEC) is set to host its first weekend of Southeastern Conference play for the 2008 season. The Gamecocks will entertain third-ranked and defending national champion Georgia (11-1, 2-0 SEC) on Friday at 2 p.m. before welcoming No. 14 Tennessee (11-1, 1-1 SEC) on Sunday at 1 p.m. Both matches are scheduled to be played at the outdoor Sam Daniel Tennis Facility, but forecasted weather may move Friday’s match to the USC Indoor Fieldhouse. Check GamecocksOnline.com for further updates.

South Carolina looks to snap a two-match losing streak after a winless opening weekend of SEC play. Carolina dropped a 5-2 decision at No. 56 Kentucky before losing a close 4-3 match at No. 29 Vanderbilt. Pedro Campos continues to impress during his sophomore campaign. He owns a 10-1 overall singles record this spring and rides a four-match winning streak into Friday’s match with Georgia. Freshman Johannes Pulsfort has also solidified his place in head coach Kent DeMars’ singles line-up. In his first season with the Gamecocks, Pulsfort owns a 6-4 singles record, while he and Campos have joined forces for a 4-4 doubles record this spring.

The Bulldogs enter weekend action with an 11-1 overall record, including a 2-0 mark in SEC play after defeating Mississippi State, 6-1, and fourth-ranked Ole Miss, 5-2, in the opening weekend of league play. UGA’s lone loss of the season came against then-No 3 Ohio State in mid-February. Georgia has five ranked singles participants, led by senior Travis Helgeson (No. 5), a pair of sophomores – Nate Schnugg at No. 9 and Jamie Hunt at No. 30 – and freshman Javier Garrapiz (No. 61) and senior Luis Flores (No. 66). Helgeson and Garrapiz joins forces as the 57th-ranked doubles team, while Hunt and Schnugg are ranked 60th in this week’s doubles rankings. Georgia holds a 24-6 advantage in the all-time series with South Carolina, including a 7-0 victory last season in Columbia.

Tennessee enters weekend action with an 11-1, 1-1 SEC record. UT’s lone loss of the season came against No. 4 Ole Miss in the opening weekend of conference play. Three Volunteers hold a singles ranking this week, led by freshman J.P. Smith (No. 16), classmate Boris Conkic (No. 67) and senior Kaden Hensel at No. 79. UT’s most notable win of the season came in a 4-3 upset of then-No. 8 Illinois in early February. The Volunteers hold a 22-17 advantage in the all-time series with the Gamecocks, including a 7-0 victory last season.

Live stats and match recaps will be available for both matches via www.GamecocksOnline.com.