March 3, 2009

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina men’s tennis enters SEC play this weekend with a No. 31 national ranking, its highest since earning the same position in the March 7, 2006, listing. Individually, junior Diego Cubas moved up to No. 64 in the nation and junior Ivan Cressoni made his ranking debut at No. 110.

The Gamecocks are 10-1 on the season with quality wins over Georgia Tech, Indiana and NC State. Cubas boasts a 17-5 overall record with a 6-4 mark in dual matches, playing at the No. 1 position. He has defeated two nationally-ranked players this season. Cressoni has been rock solid for the Gamecocks this spring with a perfect 9-0 record, including several match-clinching victories.

In doubles play, Cubas and freshman Ivan Machado are slotted into 64th place in the rankings. Playing in the No. 1 position, the duo is 6-2 this spring with a notable win over NC State’s then-No. 38 duo of Jay Weinacker and Jaime Pulgar.

South Carolina opens SEC play at home on Fri., March 6, against No. 37 Vanderbilt. The match at Sam Daniel Tennis Facility is slated to start at 2 p.m. Sunday’s outing against No. 11 Kentucky has been moved ahead one hour and will now begin at noon.