Oct. 22, 2015

AUBURN, Ala. – Four members of the South Carolina men’s tennis team will head to Auburn, Ala., this weekend for the SEC Fall Classic. The four-day event runs Oct. 23-26 at the Yarbrough Tennis Center and consists of A and B flights for singles and doubles, along with consolation brackets.

Junior Andrew Schafer and sophomores Thomas Mayronne, Harrison O’Keefe and Gabriel Friedrich will represent South Carolina at the tournament. The field includes Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Vanderbilt.

The quartet of Gamecocks has gone a combined 30-12 this fall. Mayronne’s development has been on full display as he leads the team wins 10 wins and won the singles title at the South Carolina Collegiate Championship earlier this month. Schafer is currently second on the team in wins with eight, while O’Keefe has collected seven of his own. Friedrich is beginning to come on after advancing, along with Mayronne and O’Keefe, to the quarterfinals of the USTA/ITA Carolina Regionals last weekend.

Historically, South Carolina has faired well at the SEC Fall Classic. In each of the last two seasons, a Gamecock has taken down a ranked opponent on his way to the quarterfinals. In doubles, Carolina teams advanced to the semifinals in 2013 and 2014, including Mayronne and O’Keefe’s finals appearance last year.

Carolina showed its depth at the ITA Carolina Regionals last weekend as five individuals reached the Round of 16 in the Singles Draw. Meanwhile, freshman Wood Benton reached the finals of the Consolation Draw after reeling off three-straight wins. In doubles, three teams reached the Round of 16 with two advancing to the quarterfinals.

Stay tuned to www.GamecocksOnline.com for tournament information, and follow the team on Twitter (@GamecockMTennis) for updates.