Friedrich Rises in Final ITA Rankings
June 1, 2016
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Redshirt sophomore Gabriel Friedrich of the South Carolina men’s tennis team rose to No. 49 in the final ITA Rankings, it was announced Wednesday. A pair of doubles teams also closed the season ranked, while the Gamecocks finished No. 45 as a team.
Playing in his first full season for the Garnet and Black, Friedrich steadily improved throughout the year while playing at the top spot in the Gamecocks’ lineup. He finished 21-18 overall with six wins over ranked opponents and advanced to the Round of 32 at the NCAA Singles Championships last week in Tulsa, Okla. His impressive spring earned him Second Team All-SEC honors, while he was also named the ITA Carolina Region Player to Watch.
The Gamecocks’ top doubles tandem of Friedrich and sophomore Harrison O’Keefe finished at No. 41 in the doubles rankings. The duo led the way for South Carolina, posting a 5-3 mark at the top of the lineup. O’Keefe and junior Alex Fennell also made the cut, finishing at No. 75.
South Carolina closed the season playing as well as any team in the nation, powering its way to two top-20 wins in its final three matches. The Gamecocks return all eight lettermen heading into next season.
For news and updates, follow the team on Twitter and Instagram (@GamecockMTennis).
Ranks
South Carolina – 45th
Singles
Gabriel Friedrich – 49th
Doubles
Friedrich/O’Keefe – 41st
Fennell/O’Keefe – 75th
