Gamecocks Fall to NC State
Raleigh, N.C. – No. 6 South Carolina men’s tennis fell to No. 34 NC State 4-1 on Wednesday. The Gamecocks come away with one doubles win and one ranked singles win.
The Wolfpack took the doubles points with wins on Courts 1 and 2. They earned the first win of the day with a 6-3 win on Court 2, but the Gamecocks evened doubles with a 6-2 win on Court 3 from junior Raphael Lambling and sophomore James Story. NC State secured the doubles point with a close 7-5 decision at the top of the lineup.
Reigning SEC Player of the Week Daniel Rodrigues earned the first singles win of the day to even the match for the Gamecocks. He made quick work of No. 82 Rafa Izquierdo Luque on Court 1. Rodrigues dominated the first set 6-1 before finishing the match off with a 6-3 second set. This win marks the juniors sixth consecutive ranked singles win from the No. 1 position.
NC State regained the lead with wins on Courts 3 and 4 to put the score up 3-1. With the Wolfpack in position to clinch the match, all eyes were on Court 2 where No. 57 Toby Samuel was taking on No. 108 Robin Catry. Catry took the first set 7-5, but Samuel took the second in a tie break 7-6(5) to force a third. Catry was dominant early in the third, going up 4-0. Samuel tried to make a comeback, going on a three game run, but Catry had the upper hand and took the final set 6-3 to clinch the match for the Wolfpack.
South Carolina will continue their road slate, taking on No. 55 Arkansas in Fayetteville. The match will be Sunday, March 27th, with first serve at 3 p.m. EST. Live stat and streaming links will be available on GamecocksOnline.com
For all the latest South Carolina men’s tennis information, continue to follow GamecocksOnline.com or the team on social media (@GamecockMTennis).
(34) NC State 4, (6) South Carolina 1
Doubles (order of finish: 2, 3, 1)
1. (19) Catry/Staeheli (NCSU) def. (13) Rodrigues/Thomson (SC) 7-5
2. C. Shick/Van Sambeek (NCSU) def. Beasley/Samuel (SC) 6-3
3. Story/Lambling (SC) def. B. Shick/Salvestre (NCSU) 6-2
Singles (order of finish: 1, 3, 4, )
1. (3) Rodrigues (SC) def. (82) Izquierdo Luque (NCSU) 6-1, 6-3
2. (108) Catry (NCSU) def. (57) Samuel (SC) 7-5, 6-7(5), 6-3
3. Staeheli (NCSU) def. Thomson (SC) 7-5, 6-1
4. Rocens (NCSU) def. Lambling (SC) 7-5, 6-3
5. Salvestre (NCSU) lead Story (SC) 6-3, 5-4, unfinished
6. Van Sambeek (NCSU) lead Beasley (SC) 6-1, 4-5, unfinished
