Gamecocks Drop Tough 4-0 Decision to Volunteers

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – No. 12 South Carolina suffered a 4-0 loss to No. 5 Tennessee in the semifinals of the SEC Tournament this afternoon. After dropping the doubles point, the Gamecocks could not hold off the Volunteers’ momentum in singles.
 
South Carolina’s No. 2 doubles team of Jake Beasley and Toby Samuel jumped out to a quick 3-1 lead and cruised to a 6-2 victory, but the other two matches were hotly contested. After falling behind early on Court 3, No. 76 Raphael Lambling and Phillip Jordan won three straight games to get back on serve at 4-4. 
 
In the top-20 battle at the top of the lineup, South Carolina’s No. 16 Daniel Rodrigues and Connor Thomson were giving No. 3 Adam Walton and Pat Harper of Tennessee all it could handle in every game with neither side breaking through. Just after Tennessee claimed the No. 3 match, the No. 1 contest went into a tiebreak. The Vols’ duo jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead and would not let the Gamecocks get back in, closing out the match 7-6 (3).
 
In singles, Tennessee claimed quick point in the No. 2 spot, but the remaining matches were closely contested. At the bottom of the lineup, Thomas Brown played a strong first set against Tennessee’s Pat Harper. Brown won that set 6-4 with a short volley at the net. Harper took the second set 6-3, and the pair had only just begun the third set when play was suspended.
 
No. 114 Toby Samuel faced No. 50 Martim Prata in the No. 3 spot. The two were back and forth in the first set all the way to four games all until Prata came out on top 6-4. Prata gained a 2-5 lead on Samuel in the second set, but Samuel won the next two games to get to 4-5. The Vols’ junior let the Gamecock freshman go no further, though, closing out the set 6-4 to give Tennessee a 3-0 advantage.
 
In the No. 5 spot, Jake Beasley faced Tennessee’s No. 92 Giles Hussey. The two played a tight first set with a late service break going Hussey’s way for a 7-5 victory, and the pattern repeated in the second with the 7-5 win sealing the Gamecocks’ fate.
 
South Carolina will wait to see its NCAA Tournament seeding and opponent, which will be announced on Mon., May 3.
 
For all the latest South Carolina men’s tennis information, continue to follow GamecocksOnline.com or the team on social media (@GamecockMTennis).
 
 
(5) Tennessee def. (12) South Carolina 4-0
Doubles (Order of Finish: 2, 3, 1*)
1. (3) Adam Walton / Pat Harper (TENN) def. (16) Daniel Rodrigues / Connor Thomson (SC) 7-6 (3)
2. Toby Samuel / Jake Beasley (SC) def. Johannus Monday / Martim Prata 6-2
3. Giles Hussey / Mark Wallner def. (76) Raphael Lambling / Phillip Jordan (SC) 6-4
 
Singles (Order of Finish: 2, 3, 5*)
1. (2) Daniel Rodrigues (SC) vs. (13) Adam Walton (TENN) 4-6, 4-5 DNF
2. (11) Johannus Monday (TENN) def. (24) Connor Thomson (SC) 6-0, 6-1
3. (50) Martim Prata (TENN)  def. (114) Toby Samuel (SC) 6-4, 6-4
4. (52) Raphael Lambling (SC) vs. Luca Wiedenmann (TENN) 5-7, 3-5 DNF
5. (92) Giles Hussey (TENN) def. Jake Beasley (SC) 7-5, 7-5
6. Thomas Brown (SC) vs. Pat Harper (TENN) 6-4, 3-6 DNF