Men's Tennis . January 28, 2018

South Carolina Defeats Drake to Close ITA Kick-Off Weekend

Jan. 28, 2018

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. –

Pos.	*Doubles (3, 1, 2)**	Score
1.	Gillespie/Thorold (DU) d. Cerundolo/Friedrich (SC)	6-4
2.	Mayronne/Jubb (SC) d. Clark/Wood (DU)td>	7-6 (7-5)
3.	O’Keefe/Dennis (SC) d. Hands/Hall (DU)	6-4

Pos.	*Singles (1, 2, 3, 5)**	Score
1.	Vinny Gillespie (DU) d. #57 Francisco Cerundolo (SC)	6-3, 6-2
2.	#74 Gabriel Friedrich (SC) d. Tom Hands (DU)	6-4, 6-0
3.	Paul Jubb (SC) d. Barny Thorold (DU)	4-6, 6-3, 6-2
4.	#63 Yancy Dennis (SC) v. #124 Ben Clark (DU)	5-7, 6-2, 3-3, susp
5.	#117 Thomas Mayronne (SC) d. Ben Wood (DU)	6-0, 6-7 (6-8), 6-1
6.	Harrison O’Keefe (SC) v. Finely Hall (DU)	6-4, 3-6, 6-5, susp

CHAPEL HILL, N.C.- No. 20 South Carolina men’s tennis closed out the ITA Kick-Off weekend with a 4-1 win over Drake. The Gamecocks bring a 5-1 overall record into next weekend’s home doubleheader.

South Carolina came out strong, securing the doubles point to establish an early 1-0 lead in the match. Harrison O’Keefe and Yancy Dennis got off to the quickest start in the #3 spot for the Gamecocks, winning their match over Tom Hands and Finely Hall, 6-4. After the Gamecocks dropped the #1 match in a tight 6-4 decision, Thomas Mayronne and Paul Jubb clinched the doubles point for the Gamecocks in the #2 spot, taking down Ben Clark and Ben Wood in a tie breaker, 7-6 (7-5).

The Gamecocks secured three of the four finished singles points to deliver Sunday’s victory. After No. 57 Cerundolo dropped his match in the #1 spot 6-3, 6-2 to Vinny Gillespie, No. 74 Friedrich quickly put the Gamecocks back in front with a 6-4, 6-0 win over Hands at #2.

Jubb and No. 117 Mayronne both battled out three-set victories that clinched the match. Jubb shook off a 6-4 first-set loss to power through Barney Thorold in the #3 spot, finishing with a score of 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. Mayronne and Wood went to a third set after the Bulldogs’ senior eked out a second-set tiebreak, but the Gamecock veteran bounced back with a dominant third set for the 6-0, 6-7 (6), 6-1 victory.

No. 63 Dennis and O’Keefe were each in their third set when their matches were suspended as the team outcome was decided. O’Keefe was up 6-4, 3-6, 6-5 over Drake’s Hall in the #6 match. Dennis was even against his opponent, No. 124 Ben Clark, with an unfinished score of 5-7, 6-2, 3-3.

The Gamecocks will return home to face Charlotte and South Carolina State in a doubleheader on Friday. South Carolina will face off against Charlotte at 11 a.m. and South Carolina State at 3 p.m. Both matches will take place in the Carolina Tennis Center.