Gamecocks Record Three Ranked Wins in Loss to NC State
Columbia, S.C. – No. 2 South Carolina men’s tennis narrowly fell to NC State 3-4 on Friday evening. The Gamecocks dropped the doubles point but claimed three singles victories in the loss. Despite the loss, all was not grim for the team with one of the doubles pairs recording a top-15 win and two players earning ranked wins in singles.
In doubles, South Carolina’s No. 3 pair of Jelani Sarr and Lucas Andrade da Silva could never get going against their opponents, dropping their match 1-6.
At the No. 2 position Casey Hoole and James Story recorded their first win together this season with a statement victory. The duo upset No. 13 Joseph Wayand and Martin Borisiouk 6-4 to even doubles the decision.
The deciding match was at the top of the lineup where Connor Thomson and Toby Samuel had given up a break to Robin Catry and Luca Staeheli. The Wolfpack pair were able to carry their lead throughout, closing the match 6-4 to secure the doubles point.
Things got evened quickly in singles with freshman Sean Daryabeigi earning the highest ranked win of his career with an upset of No. 52 Wayand 6-1, 6-3. Daryabeigi is now14-6 on the season and 3-0 in dual play.
NC State took the lead back with a win on Court 6 where Borisiouk defeated Carter Morgan 7-6(6), 6-1.
Samuel tied the match back up with his win at the top of the lineup. The senior took on No. 120 Robin Catry and had to fight from behind after giving up the first set. The deficit proved to be no problem for the Bournemouth, England, native who came back to win the match 2-6, 6-1, 6-4.
South Carolina took its first lead of the match next with No. 92 Hoole claiming a win at the No. 2 position. The junior came out on the right side of a tiebreaker first set 7-6(3), and closed out his match with a 6-4 second set.
NC State tied things up again with their win on Court 4 where da Silva fell to Braden Shick 6-3, 2-6, 4-6.
The match decision again fell to the hands of a freshman with only Sarr left on court. The Baltimore, Maryland, native took first set 7-5 but dropped the second in a close tiebreaker. After being broken on his first serve of the final set, Sarr was never able to right his ship, falling 1-6 in the final set.
The men’s tennis team is now 3-1 on the season and will next face Wake Forest on Feb. 8 at 3:00 p.m. The match will take place at the Carolina Indoor Tennis Center and will be free and open to the public.
For all the latest South Carolina men’s tennis information, continue to follow GamecocksOnline.com or the team on social media (@GamecockMTennis).
NC State 4, (2) South Carolina 3
Doubles (order of finish: 3, 2, 1)
- Robin Catry/Luca Staeheli (NCSU) def. Toby Samuel/Connor Thomson (SC) 6-4
- Casey Hoole/James Story (SC) def. #13 Joseph Wayand/Martin Borisiouk (NCSU) 6-4
- Braden Shick/Fons Van Sambeek (NCSU) def. Jelani Sarr/Lucas da Silva (SC) 6-1
Singles (order of finish: 5, 6, 1, 2, 4, 3)
- Toby Samuel (SC) def. #120 Robin Catry (NCSU) 2-6, 6-1, 6-4
- #92 Casey Hoole (SC) def. Fons Van Sambeek (NCSU) 7-6 (7-3), 6-4
- Luca Staeheli (NCSU) def. Jelani Sarr (SC) 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 6-1
- Braden Shick (NCSU) def. Lucas da Silva (SC) 3-6, 6-2, 6-4
- Sean Daryabeigi (SC) def. #52 Joseph Wayand (NCSU) 6-1, 6-3
- Martin Borisiouk (NCSU) def. Carter Morgan (SC) 7-6 (8-6), 6-1
