Oct. 7, 2015
BELTON, S.C. – South Carolina men’s tennis returned from the South Carolina Men’s Collegiate Championships on Sunday after claiming both the singles and doubles titles. Both championship matches were an all-Gamecock affair as sophomore Thomas Mayronne defeated teammate Andrew Schafer in singles, while the duo teamed up to beat fellow Gamecocks Yancy Dennis and Sam Swank for the doubles title.
Mayronne’s journey to the title included wins over foes from Wofford and Presbyterian College before defeating Schafer in the finals. With his perfect 5-0 mark in singles over the weekend, he now leads the team in wins this fall with six.
Mayronne and Schafer weren’t the only Gamecocks advancing deep into the singles draw. Swank picked up wins over opponents from Clemson, Furman and Presbyterian on his way to the semifinals, giving South Carolina three of the final four competitors in the tournament. He would finish 4-1 at the event and was awarded the Jim Russell Sportsmanship Award.
Mirroring the singles bracket, the doubles semifinals had a strong Garnet and Black presence. Freshman Wood Benton, paired with Wofford’s Patrick Longest, won his first three matches to advance to the semifinals before falling to the Gamecock tandem of Dennis/Swank, 6-2. Benton won his first two matches in singles competition, running his win total to five for the weekend.
Along with reaching the title match in doubles, Dennis went 3-1 in singles and advanced to the Round of 16 before falling to Cameron Green of Furman in three sets. With his performance, the freshman improved his singles record to 4-3.
The Gamecocks return to action at the ITA Carolina Regional in Cary, N.C., October 16-18, where they will compete against the top talent in North and South Carolina. For team updates stay tuned to www.GamecocksOnline.com and follow the team on Twitter (@GamecockMTennis).
TOURNAMENT RESULTS
Singles
R32 Wood Benton (SC) def. Alan Poric (Woff.), 7-6, 6-3
R32 Yancy Dennis (SC) def. Joe Bove (Citadel), 6-1, 6-0
R32 Thomas Mayronne (SC) def. Andrew Graham (Woff.), 6-2, 7-6
R32 Andrew Schafer (SC) def. Ramiro Uretta (And.), 6-1, 6-0
R32 Sam Swank (SC) def. Josh Pistorious (Furman), 7-5, 6-4
R16 Thomas Mayronne (SC) def. Ben Kelley (PC), 7-6, 6-2
R16 Wood Benton (SC) def. Jake Munns (Furman), 7-5, 4-6, 1-0 (8)
R16 Sam Swank (SC) def. Danny Bruce (PC), 6-3, 6-3
R16 Cameron Green (Furman) def. Yancy Dennis (SC), 4-6, 6-1, 1-0 (8)
R16 Andrew Schafer (SC) def. Alejandro Bejar (PC), 6-3, 6-2
Cons. Yancy Dennis (SC) def. Ben Kelley (PC), 6-2, 6-0
QF Thomas Mayronne (SC) def. Haris Poric (Woff.), 7-5, 6-2
QF Andrew Schafer (SC) def. Wood Benton (SC), 6-4, 6-2
QF Sam Swank (SC) def. Arturo Pinazo (Clemson), 6-3, 6-1
Cons. Yancy Dennis (SC) def. Danny Bruce (PC), 3-6, 6-4, 1-0 (2)
Cons. Cameron Green (Furman) def. Wood Benton (SC), 6-4, 6-4
SF Thomas Mayronne (SC) def. Brandon Mills (PC), 6-2, 7-6
SF Andrew Schafer (SC) def. Sam Swank (SC), 6-4, 6-4
Cons. Sam Swank (SC) def. Brandon Mills (PC), 6-4, 7-5
F Thomas Mayronne (SC) vs. Andrew Schafer (SC), 6-3, 6-3
Doubles
R32 Benton/Longest (SC/Woff.) def. Iriberri/Uretta (And.), 6-1
R16 Mayronne/Schafer (SC) def. Arney/Steryous (Furman), 6-1
R16 Dennis/Swank (SC) def. Hobson/Grady (Citadel), 6-3
R16 Benton/Longest (SC/Woff.) def. Munns/Pistorius (Furman), 6-3
QF Mayronne/Schafer (SC) def. Schoen/Thomas (Woff.), 6-1
QF Dennis/Swank (SC) def. Mills/Bruce (PC), 6-4
QF Benton/Longest (SC/Woff.) def. Dudley/Pinazo (Clem.), 6-3
SF Dennis/Swank (SC) def. Benton/Longest (SC/Woff.), 6-2
SF Mayronne/Schafer (SC) def. Poric/Poric (Woff.), 6-3
F Mayronne/Schafer (SC) def. Dennis/Swank (SC), 7-6 (7-5)
