March 13, 2008

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The South Carolina men’s tennis team improved its overall record to 8-6 on Thursday, defeating the Rebels of UNLV, 4-3, in non-conference play in Las Vegas. Carolina failed to earn the doubles point, however, the Gamecocks earned victories at the top four singles positions, including the match-clinching win by senior Yevgeny Supeko on court one.

The Rebels captured the doubles point with victories at the top two positions. Pedro Campos and Diego Cubas joined forces on court one, suffering an 8-6 loss to the team of Elliot Wronski and Wesley Burrows. UNLV took court two with an 8-3 win, as Luca Barlocchi and David Campbell defeated Supeko and Johannes Pulsfort. USC’s win in doubles action came from the team of Jaime Cuellar and David Wolff. The duo captured an 8-4 victory over Andrew Giuffrida and Bryan Miller.

Pulsfort led off Carolina’s string of victories in singles play, defeating Miller in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1. UNLV won two straight at No. 5 and 6, extending its lead to 3-1, however, the Gamecocks answered with three victories to take the match. Campos earned a hard-fought 7-5, 7-6(5) win over Burrows and Cubas followed with a convincing victory at No. 2 over Barlocci, 6-3, 6-4. The deciding match came at No. 1 singles where Supeko upset No. 93 Wronski in come-from-behind fashion, battling back from an opening set loss to take the match, 1-6, 7-6(5), 6-2.

Carolina returns to SEC play next week, traveling to Mississippi State on March 21 at 3 p.m. ET before returning to Columbia to host Mississippi on March 23 at 1 p.m. ET.

Complete results are listed below.

#68 SOUTH CAROLINA 4, UNLV 3
At Fertitta Tennis Complex, Las Vegas

DOUBLES — (UNLV EARNS ONE TEAM POINT)
1. Wronski/Burrows (UNLV) def. Campos/Cubas (USC) 8-6
2. Barlocchi/Campbell (UNLV) def. Supeko/Pulsfort (USC) 8-3
3. Cuellar/Wolff (USC) def. Giuffrida/Miller (UNLV) 8-4
Order of Finish: 3,2,1

SINGLES — (USC EARNS FOUR TEAM POINTS)
*1. Yevgeny Supeko (USC) def. #93 Elliot Wronski (UNLV) 1-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2
2. Diego Cubas (USC) def. Luca Barlocci (UNLV) 6-3, 6-4
3. Pedro Campos (USC) def. Wesley Burrows (UNLV) 7-5, 7-6 (5)
4. Johannes Pulsfort (USC) def. Bryan Miller (UNLV) 6-1, 6-1
5. David Campbell (UNLV) def. David Wolff (USC) 6-3, 6-3
6. Rony Yeghnazary (UNLV) def. Jaime Cuellar (USC) 6-2, 1-6, 6-1
Order of Finish: 4,5,6,3,2,1
*Clinching match