Friedrich, Mayronne Surge into Singles Semifinals at ITA Regionals
Oct. 16, 2016
CARY, N.C. – For the first time since 2009, a Gamecock will be featured in the singles title match at the ITA Carolina Regional Championships. Gabriel Friedrich and Thomas Mayronne gutted out two more wins apiece on Sunday, setting up a semifinal match between the two teammates on Monday.
“We got better today and I’m very proud of all of our guys that took the court and battled,” said head coach Josh Goffi. “Regardless of result, we left it all out there.”
In Friedrich’s first match of the day, he cruised to a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Winthrop’s Diego Quiroz. In the quarterfinals, the junior overcame an opening set loss to capture a 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3 win over Bo Boyden of North Carolina. Mayronne’s road to the semifinals was a little more eventful. The Monroe, La. native battled to earn two three-set triumphs, the latter of which came against the 10th-ranked player in the country, North Carolina’s Ronnie Schneider.
“Gabriel stepped up and took care of business against a very dangerous player from North Carolina,” said Goffi. “Thomas took down a very highly-ranked player who is one of the toughest outs in college tennis today by being an even tougher out. He was an absolute warrior today and proved what it is to be a Gamecock.”
Also competing in the round of 16 singles, but falling in their matches, was Harrison O’Keefe and Yancy Dennis. O’Keefe drop his contest to the tournament’s top seed, Skander Mansouri of Wake Forest, 6-1, 6-3. Dennis captured a first set victory over Duke’s Nicolas Alvarez, but the 14th-ranked player in the nation pushed back and ultimately took down Dennis 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (4).
“Yancy raised his level and put himself in position to win against one of the best players in college tennis,” said Goffi. “He left his heart on the court today but came up a little short.”
Wrapping up Sunday’s slate was the doubles round of 16. Mayronne and Andrew Schafer toppled Furman’s Jake Munns and Adam Steryous 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7). The Gamecock duo will play in the doubles quarterfinals on Monday. With a win in that contest, they would play a semifinal match after that.
MONDAY’S SCHEDULE
SINGLES | Semifinals
Gabriel Friedrich (SC) vs. Thomas Mayronne (SC) – 9 a.m.
DOULBES | Quarterfinals
Mayronne/Schafer (SC) vs. Kelly/Peck (UNC)
DOUBLES | Semifinals
TBD
SUNDAY’S RESULTS
SINGLES | Round of 16
Skander Mansouri (Wake) def. Harrison O’Keefe (SC), 6-1, 6-3
Nicolas Alvarez (Duke) def. Yancy Dennis (SC), 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (4)
Gabriel Friedrich (SC) def. Diego Quiroz (Winthrop), 6-3, 6-3
Thomas Mayronne (SC) def. Scott Webster (App. State), 6-4, 0-6, 6-0
SINGLES | Consolation Round of 16
Andrew Schafer (SC) def. Sean Hill (Wake), 6-1, 6-1
SINGLES | Quarterfinals
Gabriel Friedrich (SC) def. Bo Boyden (UNC), 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3
Thomas Mayronne (SC) def. Ronnie Schneider (UNC), 7-6 (4), 6-7 (3), 6-2
SINGLES | Consolation Quarterfinals
Felix Ewers (USC Upstate) def. Andrew Schafer (SC), 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7)
DOUBLES | Round of 16
Mayronne/Schafer (SC) def. Munns/Steryous (Furman), 2-6, 6-4, 1-0 (8)
