Gamecocks Add Six Wins at Fall SEC Shootout
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina men’s tennis closed out day two of the Gamecock Fall SEC Shootout with six more wins. Junior Jake Beasley picked up his second win in as many days, while Connor Thomson gutted out a dramatic third-set tiebreak to pick up his first singles win of the season.
In doubles, the Gamecocks’ top two teams delivered when their matches were on the line. Raphael Lambling delivered a service winner on match point as he and Phillip Jordan picked up an 8-6 win over Texas A&M’s Juan Carlos Aguilar and Bjorn Thomson. On Court 2, Daniel Rodrigues and Thomson forced a tiebreak behind Thomson’s big serving game at 6-7. A Rodrigues forehand on the first point got the tiebreak going in the Gamecocks’ favor, and Thomson’s sharp return on match point delivered the 8-7 (5) victory.
Singles matches were hard-fought throughout the day with six going to three sets. Senior Thomas Brown was the first Gamecock off the court with his efficient 7-5, 6-2 victory over Pierce Rollins of Texas A&M. The veteran used the moment of the late break in the first set to get ahead of Rollins early in the second with a service break at 2-1.
Thomson and Texas A&M’s Juan Carlos Aguilar battled back and forth in the first set until the big-hitting Gamecock sophomore broke open the tiebreak. With a 4-3 lead, Thomson captured both his service points, including an ace to set up set point. Aguilar shook off the tiebreak loss to claim the second set 6-3 then battle back from a 1-4 deficit to force a tiebreak in the third set. Thomson fought off a pair of match points at 4-6 before powering home four straight points, picking up the win on a vicious forehand return up the line for the 7-6 (6) victory.
Beasley sprinted to at 6-1 first-set win in his match against Texas A&M’s Stefan Storch. The two traded early service breaks in the second and went to a tiebreak. Storch jumped out to an early 6-1 lead, and after Beasley fought off three set points, closed out the tiebreak 7-6 (4). The two went back and forth in the decisive set until Beasley stepped up with a service break at 6-5 for the victory.
Gamecock Notables
- South Carolina’s doubles teams continued to be strong on Saturday, especially at the top of the lineup. The Nos. 1 and 2 duos both posted wins for the second-straight day. Raphael Lambling and Phillip Jordan stretched their season-long win streak to five with an 8-5 victory.
- Connor Thomson played three tiebreaks between his double and singles matches, winning all three.
- Six singles matches went to three sets, and the Gamecocks combined to play five tiebreaks, winning three of them.
- Jake Beasley is the lone Gamecock still undefeated in singles this season, sitting at 3-0 heading into Sunday’s matches.
The Gamecock Fall SEC Shootout will conclude on Sunday. Due to expected inclement weather overnight, the start time has not yet been determined.
Gamecock Day 2 Singles Results
Valentin Vacherot (TAM) def. Daniel Rodrigues (SC) 6-3, 1-6, 6-3
Hady Habib (TAM) def. Raphael Lambling (SC) 5-7, 6-1, 6-0
Connor Thomson (SC) def. Juan Carlos Aguilar (TAM) 7-6 (3), 3-6, 7-6 (6)
Barnaby Smith (TAM) def. Philip Jordan (SC) 6-3, 7-5
Noah Schachter (TAM) def. Toby Samuel (SC) 6-3, 7-6 (7)
Thomas Brown (SC) def. Pierce Rollins (TAM) 7-5, 6-2
Jake Beasley (SC) def. Stefan Storch (TAM) 6-1, 6-7 (4), 7-5
Raphael Perot (TAM) def. Beau Pelletier (SC) 7-5, 3-6, 6-2
Bjorn Thomson (TAM) def. Carter Morgan (SC) 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
Gamecock Day 1 Doubles Results
Raphael Lambling / Phillip Jordan (SC) def. Juan Carlos Aguilar/Bjorn Thomson (TAM) 8-6
Daniel Rodrigues / Connor Thomson (SC) def. Barnaby Smith/Valentin Vacherot (TAM) 8-7 (5)
Hady Habib/Kenner Taylor (TAM) def. Toby Samuel / Jake Beasley (SC) 8-4
Beau Pelletier / Thomas Brown (SC) def. Stefan Storch/Noah Schachter (TAM) 8-5
