Feb. 4, 2011

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina men’s tennis will host Charlotte and Appalachian State for a doubleheader on Sat., Feb. 5, at the USC Indoor Fieldhouse. The Gamecocks will take on the 49ers at 10 a.m. and the Mountaineers at 4 p.m. South Carolina is looking for its second home win of the season as it plays five of its next six matches on home courts.

The Gamecocks enter the weekend with a 1-4 record after dropping a pair of matches at the ITA Kickoff Weekend event at Ohio State last weekend. Sophomore Alexander Kostanov leads the team with nine singles victories, including the Gamecocks’ lone singles win last weekend. Three of Kostanov’s victories have come in three sets with two of those of the comeback variety. He has three wins in dual-match play this spring, which is tied for the team lead, playing in the No 2 or 3 spot in the lineup.

Charlotte brings a 1-2 dual-match record to Columbia, picking up its first win of the season with a 6-1 decision over Winston-Salem State on Thursday afternoon. A pair of freshmen lead the 49ers with six singles wins apiece. Victor Theorin is 6-8 on the season, including a 2-1 mark in dual-match play as he mans the No. 5 position in the singles lineup. Alex Weber is 6-4, with a 1-0 record in the No. 6 singles spot this spring. Senior Moritz Bernhoerster has played two matches in the No. 1 singles position, and is 5-8 overall this season.

Appalachian State kicks off its 2011 spring campaign Friday afternoon against Liberty before making the trip to Columbia. After leading the team in singles victories last season, junior Alain Humblet turned in a 6-3 record this fall, including a spot in the Round of 32 at the ITA Carolinas Regional.

The Gamecocks are a combined 32-2 all-time against Saturday’s opponents, turning in matching 16-1 marks against each team. South Carolina posted 5-2 wins over both Charlotte and Appalachian State last season in Columbia.