Sept. 20, 2014

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – South Carolina men’s tennis recorded a pair of wins over ranked opponents early and finished the day with one remaining entry in both the singles and doubles brackets of SEC Fall Classic at Florida’s Scott Linder Stadium at Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex. Senior Kyle Koch advanced to the quarterfinals with a win over the No. 32 player in the nation – the highest-ranked win of his career. The freshman doubles team of Thomas Mayronne and Harrison O’Keefe powered confidently into the semifinals as well.

Singles play opened the day, and Koch added another win to his streak with a 6-3, 6-3 showing over Jordan Szabo of Texas A&M. Sophomore Andrew Schafer scored the big win of the day against another Aggie. Facing the highest ranked player of his career in No. 15 Shane Vinsant, Schafer eked out a first-set tiebreak to take the early lead. From there, his confidence grew en route to a 6-4 second set that moved him into the Round of 16.

After consolation play saw Mayronne and O’Keefe each score a victory, the first of their collegiate careers. Mayronne stormed to a 6-0 first-set win over Florida’s Oliver Landert and needed a late service break to finish out the win. O’Keefe’s win came with decidedly more drama. After winning the first set 6-2 over Ryan Smith of Vanderbilt, he dropped the second 6-4. The third set went to a super tiebreak, which O’Keefe controlled for a 1-0 (5) win.

Back in the main draw, Koch and Schafer were bidding for a spot in the quarterfinals. Koch lined up against No. 32 Lukas Ollert of Auburn, the highest ranked opponent he faced in his career. A tight first set went Koch’s way with a late service break, and he held off Ollert in the second 6-4 to move into the quarterfinals, where he will face No. 70 Gordon Watson of Florida, who ousted Schafer in a tough three-set match in the Round of 16.

Doubles closed out the day’s action with Mayronne and O’Keefe carrying the Gamecock banner into the quarterfinals with a commanding 8-1 win over Vanderbilt’s Baker Newman and Smith. Andrew Adams, who fell in a hard-fought three-set singles match earlier in the day, and Koch dropped a close 8-6 decision to No. 42 Watson and Hidalgo of Florida.

Play continues on Sunday at 9 a.m. with the singles quarterfinals. Doubles semifinals and finals will follow.

South Carolina Results

Singles
Second Round
Danny Valent (VU) def. (25) Andrew Adams (SC) 6-2, 3-6, 7-5
Kyle Koch (SC) def. Jordan Szabo (TAM) 6-3, 6-3
Andrew Schafer (SC) def. (15) Shane Vinsant (TAM) 7-6, 6-4

Round of 16
Koch (SC) def. (32) Lukas Ollert (AUB) 7-5, 6-4
(70) Gordon Watson def. Schafer (SC) 6-4, 6-7, 6-2

Consolation Rd. of 32
Santiago Munoz (ARK) def. Sam Swank (SC) 6-3, 6-1
Thomas Mayronne (SC) def. Oliver Landert (UF) 6-0, 7-5
Harrison O’Keefe (SC) def. Ryan Smith (VU) 6-2, 4-6, 1-0 (5)

Consolation Rd. of 16
Luis Valero (TN) def. Mayronne (SC) 5-7, 7-5, 1-0 (7)
Kris Yee (VU) def. O’Keefe (SC) 6-4, 6-2

Consolation
Andrew Dromsky (TN) def. Swank (S) 3-6, 6-4, 1-0 (7)

Doubles
Quarterfinals
Mayronne/O’Keefe (SC) def. Baker Newman/Ryan Smith (VU) 8-1
(42) Gordon Watson/Diego Hidalgo (UF) def. Adams/Koch (SC) 8-6