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Feb. 26, 2016

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Series Breakdown
Opponent Last Meeting (Date) Series
Clemson W, 6-1 (1/31/15) CU, 64-42-2
UNC Asheville W, 6-1 (1/29/05) USC, 1-0

COLUMBIA, S.C. — University of South Carolina men’s tennis wraps up its month-long February road slate as it travels to Clemson, S.C., for matchups with Clemson and UNC Asheville on Saturday. The Gamecocks and Tigers meet for the 109th time between the two programs on Saturday at 11 a.m., while Carolina takes on the Bulldogs that afternoon with an estimated start time of 4 p.m. Both matches will take place at the Hoke Sloan Tennis Center on the campus of Clemson University.

Quotable

Head Coach Josh Goffi: “As with any rivalry matchup, we’re expecting a real tough match with a lot of momentum changes throughout. We need to toughen up on the road if we are going to be successful this season, and there isn’t a better place to start that trend.”

Certified SC Grown Palmetto Series

Saturday’s matchup between the Gamecocks and Tigers marks the 13th contest in the Certified SC Grown Palmetto Series. South Carolina currently leads the series, 7-5, thanks to wins in men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball, women’s golf, women’s diving, women’s tennis and the annual food drive. Following Saturday’s match, points remain up for grabs in baseball and academics.

No Place Like Home

South Carolina’s matches with Clemson and UNC Asheville mark seven straight matches away from home, a stretch that encompasses the entire month of February. The Gamecocks are 4-0 at home this season, including a win over then No. 39 Georgia Tech.

Scouting Clemson

  • Clemson has won six of its last seven matches, with its lone blemish during that stretch coming in a home loss to Auburn.
  • The Tigers boast an interesting mix of talent and experience as freshman Alex Favrot leads a unit that consists of eight upperclassmen.
  • Favrot is 8-3 in singles this season, posting a 6-2 mark at No. 1. He and teammate Luke Johnson are 6-0 at the top of the doubles lineup.
  • Senior Dominic Cotrone, a two-time All-ACC performer at Florida State, is ranked No. 26 in singles, accumulating a 3-2 record for the Bulls this season at the No. 2 position.

Scouting UNC Asheville

  • The Bulldogs enter the match with a 4-2 record this season after going 11-8 in 2015.
  • Asheville returns its top three players from last season in seniors Daniel Kripak and Thomas Orestis-Panoulas and junior Josh Swindler.

Up Next

South Carolina plays at home for the first time since Jan. 30, launching its SEC slate against Alabama and No. 42 Mississippi State. The Gamecocks square off with the Crimson Tide on Fri., Mar. 4, at 5 p.m., before hosting the Bulldogs Sunday at 11 a.m. The weekend is designated as Alumni Weekend, and head coach Josh Goffi will welcome back former members of the Gamecock men’s tennis program for an assortment of activities surrounding the match dates.