Gamecocks Overcome Missouri 4-2
March 24, 2017
COLUMBIA, Mo. — The No. 24 South Carolina women’s tennis team fought its way to a 4-2 triumph over No. 44 Missouri on Friday at the Mizzou Tennis Center in Columbia, Mo. The Gamecocks improved to 11-5 overall and 2-3 in the SEC, while the Tigers fell to 10-6 and 1-4 in league play.
The Gamecocks faltered in the doubles point, losing in the first and second positions. South Carolina claimed a victory on court three with Ingrid Gamarra Martins and Brigit Folland taking down Clare Raley and Kadi Fauble 6-1. At one, Bea Machado Santos and Amina Ismail (64) defeated Paige Cline and Hadley Berg (42) 6-3. Tate Schroeder and Cassidy Spearman secured the doubles point with their 6-3 victory on court two over Caroline Dailey and Silvia Chinellato.
In singles, South Carolina struck first with a dominating performance by No. 75 Mia Horvit on court two, defeating Spearman 6-2, 6-0 to tie it up. Martins (36) gave the Gamecocks the lead, defeating Santos in straight sets 6-3, 6-3. On court four, Chinellato contributed her point with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Mackenzy Middlebrook. Schroeder brought the score within one for Missouri, defeating Cline 7-5, 6-1 in the No. 3 spot.
South Carolina had to grind out the remaining two matches to pick up the victory, sending courts five and six to third-set battles. Berg would eventually defeat her opponent 6-2, 1-6, 6-4 to clinch the match and make a 4-2 final score. With the win, she stretched her win-streak to 13, the longest in the SEC, and remained perfect on the season.
Quoting Coach Kevin Epley
“Missouri played hard and this match came down to the wire. Fortunately, Hadley stepped it up to clinch for us in the second straight match. She’s been showing a lot of guts lately. We are looking forward to another challenge on Sunday against a strong Arkansas squad.”
RESULTS
SINGLES (2,1,4,3,5):
1. #36 Ingrid Martins (SC) def. Bea Machado Santos (MIZ) 6-3, 6-3
2. #75 Mia Horvit (SC) def. Cassidy Spearman (MIZ) 6-2, 6-0
3. Tate Schroeder (MIZ) def. Paige Cline (SC) 7-5, 6-1
4. Silvia Chinellato (SC) def. Mackenzy Middlebrook (MIZ) 6-3, 6-2
5. Hadley Berg (SC) def. Amina Ismail (MIZ) 6-2, 1-6, 6-4
6. Brigit Folland (SC) vs Clare Raley (MIZ) 6-3, 5-7, 4-4, unfinished
DOUBLES (3,1,2):
1. #64 Bea Machado Santos/Amina Ismail (MIZ) def. #42 Paige Cline/Hadley Berg (SC) 6-3
2. Tate Schroeder/Cassidy Spearman (MIZ) def. Caroline Dailey/Silvia Chinellato (SC) 6-3
3. Brigit Folland/Ingrid Martins (SC) def. Clare Raley/Kadi Fauble (MIZ) 6-1
Up Next
After facing No. 18 Arkansas on the road Sunday, March 26, the Gamecocks will return home for five matches. The first against No. 11 Auburn on Friday, March 31 at the Carolina Tennis Center at 5 p.m. Admission and parking to all home tennis matches are free of charge.
