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Gamecocks Rally From Behind to Win on the Road
Women's Tennis  . 

Gamecocks Rally From Behind to Win on the Road

Winston-Salem, N.C. – ­No. 24 South Carolina women’s tennis emerged victorious in Winston-Salem on Saturday, fighting back from down 1-3 to win the match 4-3 over Wake Forest. The Gamecocks dropped the doubles point but were able to claim four singles wins for the victory.

In doubles, Wake Forest claimed wins on Courts 1 and 3 before the Gamecocks could register any victories. Shahar Biran and Misa Malkin were leading their match 5-2 when play was suspended.

Play moved to singles where Malkin was first to put a point on the board, evening the match score at 1-1. The junior defeated Nevena Carton 6-2, 6-3 to improve to 12-9 in singles this season and 5-1 from the No. 4 position.

The Demon Deacon’s rallied back to claim the next two points with Marcella Cruz defeating No. 108 Biran and No. 35 Casie Wooten defeating No. 3 Ayana Akli.

With the home team leading by two, all remaining courts had to go in South Carolina’s favor for the win and all courts were in decisive third sets.

On the No. 5 court, Elise Mills was battling from behind after dropping her first set 4-6 to Sankavi Gownder. The graduate won her second set with a late break 7-5 and came back strong in the final set, winning it 6-4.

At the second spot in the lineup, No. 4 Sarah Hamner was in a similar situation, having given up her first set 5-7 and taken her second set 7-5. The junior was relentless in the final set, winning it 6-3 to even the match at 3-3.

The final match on was between Olympe Lancelot and Krystal Blanch with the Gamecock taking the first set 6-4 and the Demon Deacon taking the second set in a tiebreak 7-6(5). The pressure was no problem for Lancelot who rallied to breeze through her final set 6-2, clinching the win.

The Gamecocks now improve to 6-1 on the season and will return home to host Charlotte and Charleston Southern on Feb. 25th for their final non-conference matches. The doubleheader will begin at 2:00 p.m. with the second match following at 6:00 p.m.

For all the latest South Carolina women’s tennis information, continue to follow GamecocksOnline.com or the team on social media (@GamecockWTennis).

#24 South Carolina 4, Wake Forest 3

Doubles (order of finish: 3, 1)

  1. Brooke Killingsworth/Marcella Cruz (WFU) def. #27 Ayana Akli/Olympe Lancelot (SC) 6-3
  2. Krystal Blanch/Casie Wooten (WFU) vs. Shahar Biran/Misa Malkin (SC) 2-5, unfinished
  3. Sankavi Gownder/Whitley Pate (WFU) def. Elise Mills/Sarah Hamner (SC) 6-2

Singles (order of finish: 4, 3, 1, 5, 2, 6)

  1. #35 Casie Wooten (WFU) def. #3 Ayana Akli (SC) 6-4, 3-6, 6-1
  2. #4 Sarah Hamner (SC) def. Brooke Killingsworth (WFU) 5-7, 7-5, 6-3
  3. Marcella Cruz (WFU) def. #108 Shahar Biran (SC) 7-6 (7-4), 6-2
  4. Misa Malkin (SC) def. Nevena Carton (WFU) 6-2, 6-3
  5. Elise Mills (SC) def. Sankavi Gownder (WFU) 4-6, 7-5, 6-4
  6. Olympe Lancelot (SC) def. Krystal Blanch (WFU) 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2

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