Gamecocks Top Chanticleers, 6-1
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The No. 30-ranked South Carolina women’s tennis team split a pair of matches in a day of individual firsts on Sunday at the Carolina Tennis Center.
In the first match, the Gamecocks (4-4) fell to No. 13 Oklahoma State (9-1) after a hard-fought battle, 4-2. Next, Carolina took down Coastal Carolina (2-3), 6-1.
“It’s disappointing that we felt like we were on the verge of victory against Oklahoma State and didn’t get the win,” head coach Kevin Epley said. “There were plenty of positive things on the day that we can build on going into SEC season.”
OKLAHOMA STATE
After losing the doubles point, two South Carolina freshmen came out tough in singles. Playing at No. 3, No. 125 Emma Shelton defeated No. 56-ranked Ayumi Miyamoto, 6-4, 7-5. Shelton’s victory over Miyamoto marked not only her highest, but first ranked win of her collegiate career.
Also netting her first victory against a ranked opponent, Gabriela Martinez took down the Cowgirls’ No. 123 Lenka Stara in straight sets, 7-5, 6-4, on court six.
COASTAL CAROLINA
The Gamecocks went up quickly in their second match, taking the doubles point over the Chanticleers. Finishing up first, Megan Davies and Silvia Chinellato topped Somer Dalla-Bona and Jessie Mount, 6-2, on court one. At the No. 3 position, Shelton and Kendall Couch pulled out a, 6-2, victory opposite of Flaminia Scara and Alexa Tiefel. Couch’s doubles win marked her first dual-match victory.
In singles, No. 125 Shelton and Martinez picked up right where they left off against Oklahoma State. Finishing almost simultaneously, Shelton downed Dalla-Bona, 6-2, 6-1, on court two. Competing next to her on court four, Martinez did not allow Valentina Urelli a single game, blanking the Chanticleer, 6-0, 6-0.
Playing on court one, No. 20-ranked Megan Davies earned a victory over Iryna Vardanian, 6-2, 6-1, clinching the match for South Carolina. Continuing the match, Elise Mills notched a win at the No. 5 spot after topping Maria Khomchenko, 6-2, 6-1.
Couch was not able to top Mount, falling, 7-6 (5), 6-2, giving Coastal their lone point of the day. Finishing up the match, Kennedy Wicker outlasted Scara, 5-7, 6-2, 10-8, ending the overall match, 6-1, in favor of South Carolina.
Up next, the Gamecocks begin SEC play on the road, facing Auburn on Friday, Feb. 28 at 3 p.m. ET and Alabama on Sunday, March 1 at 12 p.m. ET.
For more information on the Gamecocks, follow the team on social media (GamecockWTennis) and continue to check back with gamecocksonline.com. Subscribe to South Carolina on Stanza to get schedule updates directly in your calendars.
