Shelton Remains Undefeated in Dual-Match Singles
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The No. 13 South Carolina women’s tennis team fell to Georgia Tech, 4-1, in a hard-fought match that was closer than what the final score reflected on Sunday at the Carolina Tennis Center.
With the conclusion of the match, the Gamecocks fell to 1-2, while the Yellow Jackets are now 8-0 on the season.
Emma Shelton claimed her third-straight dual victory of the season opposite of Nami Otsuka at the No. 4 position. In the first set, Shelton jumped out to a big, 5-0, advantage over the Yellow Jacket. Otsuka then took one game before Shelton sealed the first set, 6-1. In the second set, Shelton broke away from her, 3-2, lead, clinching the match, 6-1, 6-2.
“(Sunday) was a tough day for us,” head coach Kevin Epley said. “We didn’t play very well in doubles and we really didn’t get it together in singles in the Gamecock fashion that we’re accustomed to. Georgia Tech came out and battled hard and I think they outfought us in certain positions. This is unfamiliar territory for us and we’ve got to get it right. We have a big match against Clemson so we have some work to get done before that.”
In doubles, Silvia Chinellato and Megan Davies got off to a hot start after blanking Monika Dedaj and Rosie Garcia Gross, 6-0, at the No. 2 spot.
On court three, Ana Cruz and Gabriela Martinez started with a, 2-0, lead over Gia Cohen and Otsuka, but ultimately fell, 6-3. With doubles split, all eyes were on court one. Mia Horvit and Emma Shelton fell behind No. T51 Victoria Flores and Kenya Jones, 4-0, then, 5-1. The Gamecock tandem made a push, bringing the score within two, 5-3. In the end, the Yellow Jackets won the match, 6-3, and claimed the doubles point.
Transitioning into singles, Shelton was the first off the court with her, 6-1, 6-2, victory over Otsuka.
At the No. 2 spot, No. 28 Davies was not able to top Flores, losing the match, 6-3, 6-2. With the score at 2-1 in favor of Georgia Tech, Kennedy Wicker dropped her match, 6-2, 6-3, to Garcia Gross on court five.
With Elise Mills up in her second set, 6-5, working to push a third set on court six and No. 27 Horvit about to start her third set at the No. 1 spot, Chinellato was fighting in her own third set at No. 3 singles.
Chinellato and No. 73 Cohen went back-and-forth early in the first set before the Yellow Jacket pulled away for a, 6-3, win. In a similar second set, Chinellato was the one to get out front and secure the victory, 6-3, sending them to a third set. In the final set, Chinellato fell behind and was not able to make a comeback, falling to Cohen, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, and ending the match, 4-1.
Up next, the Gamecocks take on Clemson on Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Carolina Tennis Center.
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