Gamecocks Wrap Up Perfect Weekend at Home
Columbia, S.C. – No. 42 South Carolina took down No. 44 Ole Miss Sunday afternoon in a 5-2 result at the Carolina Tennis Center. The Gamecocks made quick work of doubles and earned four singles wins, including a clinch point from No. 86 Elise Mills, on the way to the victory.
South Carolina dominated in doubles with efficient wins on Courts 1 and 3. Ayana Akli and Ana Cruz were 1-1 with their Rebel opponents until the pair took off to win 6-1. Moments later, No. 38 Megan Davies and Sarah Hamner claimed the doubles point after blanking their foes 6-0.
No. 61 Akli cruised through her singles match in the No. 2 spot. The junior fed off her doubles momentum to dominate 6-1 in the first set. She notched the second set 6-0 and won 11 straight games during her match to put South Carolina ahead 2-0.
The only other Gamecock to finish in straight sets was freshman Misa Malkin. She built a steady 3-1 lead in the first set until Ole Miss’ Zadori pushed past to lead 4-3. Malkin battled back to earn the 6-4 first set win and found herself with a 3-1 lead once again in the second set. The Tucson, Ariz. native never fell behind to punch the 6-2 win and remained perfect in singles on the weekend.
All remaining courts played three full sets and No. 86 Mills had a competitive match on Court 4. She won five games in a row on her way to a 6-2 first set win, but the Rebels’ Rachel Krzyzak answered with a 7-5 decision in the second set. Mills was ready to fight and controlled the final set to win 6-2 and clinch the win at 4-0 for South Carolina.
Play continued in the Nos. 1, 3 and 6 positions as Ole Miss grabbed two points from the top and bottom of the lineup. In the No. 3 spot, graduate student Davies played a tough match with Ludmila Kareisova. Game wins went back and forth in the first set all the way through the tiebreak in which Davies came out on top 7-6 (6). Kareisova found her groove in the second set and took the 6-2 win, but Davies was ready to respond. She battled back from a 1-4 deficit to earn the 6-4 final set victory to claim the fifth point for the Gamecocks.
South Carolina will travel to Vanderbilt and Kentucky for its next weekend of SEC play. The Gamecocks will face the Commodores on Friday at a time to be determined and the Wildcats on Sunday at noon.
(42) South Carolina def. (44) Ole Miss 4-2
Doubles (Order of Finish: 2, 1*)
1. No. 38 Megan Davies/Sarah Hamner (SC) def. Rachel Krzyzak/Sabina Machalova (OM) 6-0
2. Ayana Akli/Ana Cruz (SC) def. Kelsey Mize/Anaelle Leclercq (OM) 6-1
3. Gracie Mulville/Misa Malkin (SC) vs. Ludmila Kareisova/Lillian Gabrielsen (OM) 4-3, DNF
Singles (Order of Finish: 2, 5, 4*, 6, 1, 3)
1. Sabina Machalova (OM) def. No. 2 Sarah Hamner (SC) 5-7, 7-6 (4), 6-4
2. No. 61 Ayana Akli (SC) def. No. 120 Anaelle Leclercq (OM) 6-1, 6-0
3. Megan Davies (SC) def. Ludmila Kareisova (OM) 7-6 (6), 2-6, 6-4
4. No. 86 Elise Mills (SC) def. Rachel Krzyzak (OM) 6-2, 5-7, 6-2
5. Misa Malkin (SC) def. Reka Zadori (OM) 6-4, 6-2
6. Lillian Gabrielsen (OM) def. Ana Cruz (SC) 2-6, 6-4, 6-2
