Feb. 12, 2016
COLUMBIA, S.C. — No. 29 South Carolina women’s tennis will look to rebound after suffering its first loss of the season as it hosts a doubleheader on Sat., Feb. 13, against a pair of undefeated teams. The Gamecocks (5-1) will do battle with Georgia State (3-0) at 10 a.m., before taking on Charlotte (2-0) at 3 p.m. Both matches will take place at the USC Field House. Attendance and parking at all home matches is free.
Quotable
Head Coach Kevin Epley: “We are looking forward to getting back to work with two home matches this weekend. We had a productive week of practice, and I think we are getting closer to the team we know we can be. With the SEC season right around the corner, it’s important that we are competing with the appropriate mindset for the next three weeks.”
Freshman Impact
Four freshmen have already made an impact this spring for the Gamecocks. California native Paige Cline, ranked No. 50, is 3-2 in singles playing in the top position of the lineup. Brazilian Ingrid Gamarra Martins (5-1) received SEC Freshman of the Week honors last week. Florida native Rachel Rohrabacher has posted a 2-1 mark in singles while adding a 4-0 doubles record. Texan Ellie Zogg stepped in against William & Mary and got a win at No. 3 doubles.
Double Take
South Carolina has won the doubles point in all six matches so far this spring, and it proved especially crucial two weeks ago in the Gamecocks’ 4-3 win at No. 7 Virginia. The tandem of Cline and sophomore Hadley Berg is 2-0, while the tandem of junior Caroline Dailey and Gamarra Martins is 3-0.
Carolina vs. Georgia State
- South Carolina leads the dual match series, 1-0, as the Gamecocks took a 4-3 win in 2012.
- Georgia State enters the weekend at 2-0 with wins over UAB (7-0) and Samford (6-1). The Panthers take on Furman on Friday before coming to Columbia.
- Head Coach Jason Marshall is in his second season, leading the Panthers to a 13-9 mark in 2015.
- Senior Linn Timmermann (2-0) and sophomore Kristin Rehse (2-0) lead the team at No. 1 and 2 singles.
Carolina vs. Charlotte
- South Carolina leads the dual match series, 3-0.
- The Gamecocks have swept Charlotte in each of their three matchups, including last season’s 4-0 win on Feb. 14.
- The 49ers are off to an impressive 3-0 start to the season with wins against Gardner-Webb (6-1), Presbyterian (7-0) and College of Charleston (4-3).
- Like the Gamecocks, Charlotte has won the doubles point in each of its contests.
- Freshman Tai Martin and junior Victoria Pahlette are a combined 5-1 in the top two spots of the lineup.
Up Next
South Carolina and Clemson meet for the 51st time on Sat., Feb. 20, at the Carolina Tennis Center at Noon. The Tigers hold a 27-23 advantage in the rivalry, including a 5-2 win in 2015. While in-state bragging rights are on the line, the winning school of this year’s contest will also be awarded a point for the Certified SC Grown Palmetto Series, which South Carolina currently leads 6-5.
