Gamecocks Win Two on the Weekend
March 26, 2017
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The No. 24 South Carolina women’s tennis team claimed its second SEC win of the weekend with today’s 4-2 victory over No. 18 Arkansas at the Billingsley Tennis Center in Fayetteville, Ark. With the win, the Gamecocks improved to 13-5 in dual play and 4-3 in league play and Arkansas dropped to 14-5 overall and 4-3 in the conference.
Arkansas got on the board first, taking the doubles point with wins on courts one and three. Leolia Jeanjean and Natsuho Arakawa claimed their point with a 6-2 victory over Mia Horvit and Hadley Berg on court three. Shannon Hudson and Giulia Pairone upended Caroline Dailey and Silvia Chinellato 6-4 on court one to secure the doubles point and give the Razorbacks a 1-0 lead heading to singles play.
In singles play, Brigit Folland displayed her senior leadership with a dominating performance on court six, taking down her opponent 6-2, 6-2 to tie it up at one apiece. Horvit (75) wasn’t far behind with a 6-2, 6-2 victory of her own over No. 115 Ana Oparenovic to give the Gamecocks a 2-1 lead. Arkansas struck back with a win on court four. Mia Jurasic took a straight-set victory (6-1, 6-4) over Chinellato on court four to bring the score 2-2.
Berg gave the Gamecocks the lead with her 7-5, 6-4 battle on court four against Giulia Pairone. She is 14-0 in singles play in the spring, marking the best start for a Gamecock since 1995. Ingrid Gamarra Martins (36) clinched the match for the South Carolina with her top-50, three-set win over Shannon Hudson (48) to make a 4-2 final.
Quoting Coach Kevin Epley
“Today was our best match of the year, all in all. We haven’t nailed doubles down yet, but we competed very well and defeated an Arkansas team that is clearly one of the better teams in the conference this year. We are very happy to get out of a difficult road weekend with two wins.”
RESULTS
1. #36 Ingrid Martins (SC) def. #48 Shannon Hudson (AR) 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
2. #75 Mia Horvit (SC) def. #115 Ana Oparenovic (AR) 6-2, 6-2
3. #121 Leolia Jeanjean (AR) vs. Caroline Dailey (SC) 6-1, 6-7 (5-7), 1-4, unfinished
4. Mia Jurasic (AR) def. Silvia Chinellato (SC) 6-1, 6-4
5. Hadley Berg (SC) def. Giulia Pairone (AR) 7-5, 6-4
6. Brigit Folland (SC) def. Natsuho Arakawa (AR) 6-2, 6-2
DOUBLES (3,1*):
1. #38 Shannon Hudson/Giulia Pairone (AR) def. Caroline Dailey/Silvia Chinellato (SC) 6-4
2. Ana Oparenovic/Mia Jurasic (AR) vs. Ingrid Martins/Brigit Folland (SC) 5-6, unfinished
3. Leolia Jeanjean/Natsuho Arakawa (AR) def. Mia Horvit/Hadley Berg (SC) 6-2
Up Next
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.
