Strong Start Continues at ITA Regionals

Oct. 17, 2015

CARY, N.C. – South Carolina men’s tennis continued its hot start at the ITA Regionals as all five Gamecocks in the Round of 32 won on Saturday, advancing to the Round of 16. The momentum carried over into doubles play as three Gamecock tandems went 2-0 to reach the Round of 16.

“The guys were hungry and executed pretty well today,” head coach Josh Goffi said. “Tomorrow is a big day for everyone. Our guys need to be dialed in from point one. Matches are going to start coming down to a few big points here and there, so we have to focus on taking care of the things we can control.”

Sophomore Thomas Mayronne claimed the big win of the day, taking down the tournament’s No. 2 seed, Simon Norenius of NC State, 6-1, 6-1. He is now 9-2 this fall and has won eight consecutive matches. Mayronne will square off with fellow Gamecock and 15-seed Alex Fennell, who won in three sets over Zack Lewis of College of Charleston, in the Round of 16.

Eighth-seeded Gabriel Friedrich defeated Wofford’s Haris Poric in three sets and awaits the No. 13 seed, Nick Horton of NC State on Sunday. Fourteen-seed Andrew Schafer cruised past Clemson’s Robert Dudley 6-4, 6-3 to reach the Round of 16 where he will square off with the No. 4 seed Jack Murray of North Carolina.

Sophomore Harrison O’Keefe breezed past Danny Mack of UNC Greensboro, 6-4, 6-0. He looks to advance to the quarterfinals with a win against the No. 11 seed, Christian Seraphim of Wake Forest.

Wood Benton added to the successful Saturday by advancing in the consolation draw with a win over Coastal Carolina’s Francesco Migilano, 6-3, 6-2. He will do battle with Winthrop’s Michael Chen on Sunday for a chance to go to the quarterfinals of the consolation draw.

In doubles, all four Gamecock tandems won their opening round matches with three advancing once more to the Round of 16. Fennell and Mayronne will battle the No. 2 seed Ian Dempster and Nick Horton of NC State on Sunday looking to advance to advance to the quarterfinals. No. 4-seed Friedrich and O’Keefe take on College of Charleston’s Jaun Estravarena and Charlie Ghriskey from College of Charleston, while Dennis and Swank see Jon Ho and Keivon Tabrizi from Wake Forest.

Play continues at the Cary Tennis Park Sunday with the next two rounds of singles and the doubles Round of 16. For tournament updates, visit www.GoDuke.com or follow the team on Twitter (@GamecocksMTennis).

SATURDAY RESULTS
SINGLES
R32 (8) Gabriel Friedrich (SC) d. Haris Poric (Woff.), 6-2, 6-7(3), 6-2
R32 (14) Andrew Schafer (SC) d. Robert Dudley (Clem.), 6-4, 6-3
R32 (15) Alex Fennell (SC) d. Zack Lewis (CofC), 6-1, 1-6, 6-2
R32 Thomas Mayronne (SC) d. (2) Simon Norenius (NCSU), 6-1, 6-1
R32 Harrison O’Keefe (SC) d. Danny Mack (UNCG), 6-4, 6-0
C32 Wood Benton (SC) d. Francesco Migilano (CC), 6-3, 6-2
DOUBLES
R64 (4) Friedrich/O’Keefe (SC) d. Meparidze/Norenius (NCSU), 6-2, 7-6 (1)
R64 Benton/Schafer (SC) d. Oneal/Schwab (Campbell), 6-3, 6-1
R64 Dennis/Swank (SC) d. Chamdani/Pura (Duke), 6-2, 6-4
R64 Fennell/Mayronne (SC) d. Croker/Landau (UNCA), 6-1, 6-4
R32 (4) Friedrich/O’Keefe (SC) vs. DePaulo/Hoskins (UNC), 6-2, 6-4
R32 Mansouri/Seraphim (WF) d. Benton/Schafer (SC), 6-2, 6-2
R32 Dennis/Swank (SC) vs. Schoen/Thomas (Woff.), 6-3, 6-3
R32 Fennell/Mayronne (SC) vs. Bost/Webster (App. St.), 7-5, 0-6, 1-0 (2)

SUNDAY SCHEDULE
SINGLES
R16 (8) Gabriel Friedrich (SC) vs. (13) Nick Horton (NCSU)
R16 (14) Andrew Schafer (SC) vs. (4) Jack Murray (UNC)
R16 (15) Alex Fennell (SC) vs. Thomas Mayronne (SC)
R16 Harrison O’Keefe (SC) vs. (11) Christian Seraphim (WF)
C16 Wood Benton (SC) vs. Michael Chen (Win.) DOUBLES
R16 (4) Friedrich/O’Keefe (SC) vs. Estavarena/Ghriskey (CofC)
R16 Dennis/Swank (SC) vs. (5-8) Ho/Tabrizi (WF)
R16 Fennell/Mayronne (SC) vs. (2) Dempster/Horton (NCSU)