Men’s Tennis Announces Spring Schedule

COLUMBIA, S.C.- South Carolina men’s tennis will face a total of 13 opponents that finished last season ranked during its spring 2019 schedule, which was announced by head coach Josh Goffi this week.

“We’re excited about the challenges our young team will face this spring,” said Goffi. “They’ll have plenty of opportunities to grow as a squad and individually. We know one thing for sure, this team will earn its stripes by the end of the spring,” concluded Goffi who enters his the ninth season as the Gamecocks head coach this spring.

Carolina will make history this January as it travels to Melbourne, Australia for the first dual matches at the Australian Open. The Gamecocks will be joined by Southern California for both exhibition and regular-season matches, marking the inaugural contests to take place on location during one of the four professional Grand Slam events.
 
“We are honored and thankful that the ITA has chosen our men’s and women’s program to represent college tennis at such a prestigious event,” Goffi said. “All of our student-athletes have grown up watching all of the Grand Slams and have dreamed of playing in them. To be able to play in Melbourne Park during the Australian Open is a dream come true for everyone involved. Our guys are still in disbelief, but are counting down the days until we leave.”
 
The Gamecocks’ non-conference schedule is set to kick off with a home doubleheader against the Citadel on Friday, Jan. 11, followed by a match against Presbyterian on Sunday, Jan. 13. 

Upon their return to the states following the Aussie Open, the Gamecocks are scheduled to play another home doubleheader on Feb. 2 against Charlotte and South Carolina State. The remainder of February will see Carolina play NC State, Clemson and Georgia Tech, respectively, before opening up Southeastern Conference play on Mar. 1 at Arkansas.
 
South Carolina will face another grueling conference schedule as 11 total SEC schools finished ranked in last season’s final Oracle/ITA Team Rankings.  The Gamecocks finished last spring with a 19-9 overall record and advanced to the round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament where they fell to eventual national champions, Wake Forest.
 
The Gamecocks’ current roster, consisting of six freshmen and just three upperclassmen, finished a combined 96-41 (.701) in singles matches and 25-19 (.568) in doubles matches throughout their fall tournament slate.
 
For men’s tennis updates, continue to check back with GamecocksOnline.com or follow the team on social media (@GamecockMTennis).
 

*NOTE- Home events in BOLD