April 7, 2010

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Adriana Pereira from the South Carolina women’s tennis team (14-4, 7-1 SEC) has been named SEC Freshman of the Week, the league office announced Wednesday.

Pereira helped the Gamecocks to a 7-0 win over Kentucky last week and a 5-2 triumph against Vanderbilt. It marked the first time South Carolina defeated both schools in the same season since 1999 and placed Carolina in a tie for second place in the SEC with Georgia.

Pereira posted an undefeated record at No. 5 singles and No. 3 doubles with partner Anya Morgina. Pereira upended Elle Coldiron of Kentucky 6-1, 6-0 and then downed Rachael Dillon from Vanderbilt 7-6(3), 6-3. In doubles, she and Morgina topped Coldiron and Nicole Scates 8-1 and then defeated Hannah Blatt and Dillon 8-6.

For the season, Pereira owns a 20-8 record in singles and is tied with Dijana Stojic for the team lead in SEC victories with a 7-1 record. She and Morgina have gone 7-4 together this spring and are 6-2 in SEC matches at the No. 3 spot. Pereira has won three matches in a row in both singles and doubles.

Pereira and the 15th-ranked Gamecocks will take on No. 14 Georgia on Friday at 5 p.m. in Athens, Ga., and then square off with No. 16 Tennessee on Sunday at 1 p.m. in Knoxville, Tenn.