No. 10 South Carolina Wins 11th Straight Match
March 24, 2018
No. 10 South Carolina 4, Alabama 1
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — No. 10 South Carolina women’s tennis (16-3, 8-0 SEC) garnered the first perfect SEC regular season road record in program history with a 4-1 win at Alabama on Saturday.
The Gamecocks, who are 6-0 in SEC road matches this season, won the doubles point for the seventh time in eight SEC matches and earned three of four singles victories. No. 31 Hadley Berg and Mia Horvit buckled down to win their matches in straight sets, while Rachel Rohrabacher improved to 10-0 on the year with a come-from-behind win after losing the first set at No. 6 singles. No. 52 Ingrid Gamarra Martins surrendered the sole team point for the Gamecocks, losing her match in straight sets at No. 1 singles.
With the win, Head Coach Kevin Epley reached 100 wins at South Carolina and the team extended its SEC record to 8-0 for the first time in program history. The last time South Carolina had won straight 11 matches was during the 1984-1985 season.
DOUBLES
The Gamecocks won their seventh doubles point in eight SEC matches behind two straight victories at No. 1 and No. 2. All-Americans Hadley Berg and Paige Cline were the first off the court with a 6-1 victory over Alba Cortina-Pou and Ann Selim. The South Carolina tandem opened the match by winning four straight games and dropped just the fifth. The win improved Cline and Berg to 4-1 in SEC play at No. 1 doubles. The tandem is 7-3 over its last 10 matches dating back to Feb. 1 with a win against Clemson.
Mia Horvit and Ingrid Gamarra Martins clinched the doubles point for the Gamecocks with a 6-3 win over Andie Daniell and Kylie Moulin. The tandems traded games to start the match, but Gamarra Martins and Horvit took control with a 3-1 lead. The win marked the sixth in SEC play for Gamarra Martins and Horvit, who improved to 12-4 and 9-3 in 2018, respectively.
DOUBLES
1. Paige Cline / Hadley Berg (SC) def. Alba Cortina-Pou/Ann Selim (UA) 6-1
2. Ingrid Gamarra Martins / Mia Horvit (SC) def. Andie Daniell/Kylie Moulin (UA) 6-3
3. Smith Hinton / Jacqueline Pelletier (UA) vs. Megan Davies / Rachel Rohrabacher (SC) 4-5, unfinished
Order of finish
1, 2
SINGLES
No. 31 Hadley Berg made quick work of her opponent, Smith Hinton, on Court 2, utilizing her slices and power serve for a 6-2, 6-3 win. In the first set, Berg and Hinton traded two games apiece before Berg took four straight games to secure the win. In the second set, Berg lost the first game, but won three straight afterwards to lean momentum in her favor. Berg improved to 21-5 overall and 9-4 in dual match play with the win.
No. 52 Ingrid Gamarra Martins‘ seven-match winning streak was snapped in her loss at No. 1 singles. Alabama’s Andie Daniell won the match in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3, handing Gamarra Martins her first loss in SEC play and first loss since Feb. 9 against Duke at ITA Indoors.
At No. 3 singles, Mia Horvit extended the Gamecocks’ lead to 3-1 with her third straight win. The sophomore All-American defeated Jacqueline Pelletier, 6-4, 6-3. Horvit opened the match by taking three straight games in dominant fashion. Pelletier was able to cut the deficit to one game, 5-4, but Horvit notched the last game needed for the win. While Horvit lost the first game in the second set, she was able to keep composure and battled back to tie it, 1-1. Trading two games, Horvit and Pelletier brought the match to a 3-3 tie, before Horvit won the next three games to seal the deal.
For the second time in her career, Rachel Rohrabacher clinched the match for the Gamecocks. After falling in the first set, the South Carolina junior earned a massive come-from-behind victory over Kylie Moulin at No. 6 singles. Rohrabacher improved to 10-0 with the win and is the sole Gamecock undefeated in singles. Prior to Saturday’s match, Rohrabacher’s last clincher was against Georgia’s Vivian Wolff on March 18.
SINGLES
1. Andie Daniell (UA) def. #52 Ingrid Gamarra Martins (SC) 6-2, 6-3
2. #31 Hadley Berg (SC) def. Smith Hinton (UA) 6-2, 6-3
3. Mia Horvit (SC) def. Jacqueline Pelletier (UA) 6-4, 6-3
4. Ann Selim (UA) vs. Paige Cline (SC) 4-6, 6-4, 4-1, unfinished
5. Alba Cortina-Pou (UA) vs. Megan Davies (SC) 6-3, 5-7, 3-2, unfinished
6. Rachel Rohrabacher (SC) def. Kylie Moulin (UA) 5-7, 6-4, 6-3
Order of finish
2, 1, 3, 6
QUOTABLE
“Never an easy match in this league. Credit to Alabama. They competed incredibly well as they always do. A few of our girls pulled out gutsy performances on a day with some environmental challenges. They were able to access their games when they needed it most. We’re excited to get home and play in front of our great fans at the Carolina Tennis Center. The team has accomplished a lot thus far, but we still have plenty to work on and a number of tough matches ahead. Proud of the way we competed down the stretch today and excited for the challenges ahead.” — Associate Head Coach Jeff NevoloGAMECOCK NOTABLES
- The Gamecocks have amassed seven doubles points in eight SEC matches this season. Their sole loss in doubles came against Georgia on March 18.
- Gamarra Martins and Horvit lead the Gamecocks at 6-1 when paired together in SEC play. The duo lost its only match at Georgia on March 18. Individually, Gamarra Martins is 12-4 and Horvit is 9-3 in dual match doubles play.
- The All-Americans Cline and Berg are 4-1 when paired together at No. 1 doubles in SEC play. Individually, Cline is 8-3 and Berg is 10-4 in 2018 dual match doubles play.
- With her win over Smith Hinton on Saturday, Berg’s 21-5 singles record this season has her at 95-32 overall, five wins shy of 100 on her career, with a winning percentage of .748 that ranks seventh in school history. She is looking to become just the fourth player in school history with 100 wins.
- With her win at No. 2 singles, Berg passed Tamara Sutton for sixth on the South Carolina career singles wins list with 95 overall.
- With her two wins in singles this weekend, Mia Horvit holds a three-match wining streak dating back to March 18 at Georgia. The All-American had a perfect weekend, going 2-0 in singles and 2-0 in doubles with partner Ingrid Gamarra Martins.
- Horvit improved to 7-3 in 2018 and 3-1 in SEC play with her wins this weekend. All seven of Horvit’s dual match singles victories this season have been in the form of straight sets.
- The Gamecocks have won five straight matches with the score of 4-1.
- In eight SEC matches so far, the Gamecocks have surrendered just seven team points.
- South Carolina’s 11-match win streak is its longest since it won 11 straight in 1984-85.
- Head Coach Kevin Epley reached two milestones on this road trip, recording 250 career wins with Thursday’s win and 100 wins at South Carolina with Saturday’s win.
- The Gamecocks have won three straight matches against Alabama dating back to April 10, 2016, and are 17-12 all-time against the Tide.
- South Carolina is 7-2 against ranked opponents this season, including wins at No. 7 Ole Miss, No. 11 Texas, No. 35 Texas A&M, No. 36 LSU, No. 30 Tennessee, No. 8 Georgia and No. 15 Auburn. The Gamecocks hold a six-match winning streak against ranked opponents.
- The Gamecocks are 7-1 on the road this season and are 6-0 in SEC road play.
- Rachel Rohrabacher is still undefeated in dual match singles play at 10-0. The junior’s win streak dates back to Jan. 14 when the Gamecocks faced Florida Gulf Coast University in tournament play.
UP NEXT FOR THE GAMECOCKS
The Gamecocks return to the Carolina Tennis Center on Thursday when they open a five-match SEC home stand against Missouri at 5:30 p.m. Following the Missouri match, the Gamecocks will wrap the SEC weekend with a match against Arkansas at 12 p.m. Saturday. Free nachos will be available for fans at both matches.
The Gamecocks are 6-0 in the all-time series against Missouri that dates back to Jan. 26, 2013. The last time these two teams met, South Carolina grabbed a 4-2 road win on March 24, 2017. South Carolina’s last home win against Missouri came on March 3, 2016, in the form of a dominant 4-0 sweep at the Carolina Tennis Center.
Against Arkansas, South Carolina leads 24-6 in the all-time series and won the last two meetings in 2017 and 2016.
The Gamecocks’ last regular season opponents include Missouri, Arkansas, Florida, Vanderbilt and Kentucky.
For updates, continue to check back with GamecocksOnline.com or follow the team on social media (@GamecockWTennis).
