Sept. 30, 2010

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina men’s tennis continues its fall tournament season with a trip to Cambridge, Mass., this weekend to compete in Harvard’s The Chowder Fest, beginning at 12:30 p.m. on Fri., Oct. 1. The Gamecocks step out of the more regional play of their last three weekends to face host Harvard, Minnesota and Notre Dame in the three-day event.

“We’re excited to play in a different part of the country,” South Carolina head coach Josh Goffi. “We have been really grinding in tournaments and practice the last few weeks, so it’s good for us to get a charge of energy from doing something a little different. Like with the other fall tournaments, I’m looking for our players to continue to show improvement. This weekend, especially, I’m hoping to see a few players really rise to the occasion and win their flights.”

The Gamecocks have been led this fall by their two most experienced players. Junior Ivan Machado is 4-2 this season after advancing to the final of the B Section of the Duke Fab Four Invitational and splitting a pair of single matches in the Division I bracket at the Southern Intercollegiate Championships last weekend. Sophomore Alexander Kostanov is just behind Machado with a 3-3 mark through two tournaments. He finished sixth in Section A at the Duke Fab Four and was advancing in the consolation bracket of Division I play at the Southern Intercollegiates before play was cancelled due to inclement weather.

In doubles, senior Chris Sheehan and junior Henry Walker are leading the South Carolina charge. The duo is 3-1 this season after advancing to the semifinals of the A bracket at the USC Upstate Fall Classic. Working with two other teammates so far this season, Sheehan is 4-3 in doubles action, while Walker is 4-4 overall after also playing matches with freshman Jake Bowling.

Saturday play at The Chowder Fest begins at 11:30 a.m., while Sunday’s action starts at 11:30 a.m.