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Gamecocks Fall to No. 6 Tennessee
Women's Tennis  . 

Gamecocks Fall to No. 6 Tennessee

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 25 South Carolina women’s tennis team fell to No. 6 Tennessee on the road on Friday afternoon.

The Gamecocks are now 7-5 in this dual match season with an even 2-2 SEC record.

The Volunteers set the tone fast and early with Elza Tomase and Maeve Thornton who cruised past No. 36 Kaitlyn Carnicella and Sarah Hamner in a 23-minute 6-0 showing.

Bella Bergkvist Larsson and Olympe Lancelot fought back from a 1-5 deficit to close the gap to 3-5 in attempt to level out the match for the Gamecocks. Before the two could complete the comeback, Conley Raidt and Saray Yli-Piipari topped Helena Buchwald and Misa Malkin 6-3 to clinch the doubles point for Tennessee.

The Gamecocks dialed it up a notch for singles action, picking up three first set wins from Carnicella (7-5), Malkin (7-5) and Helena Buchwald (6-3). Tennessee extended its lead to 2-0 after No. 8 Elza Tomase defeated No. 19 Hamner in straight sets of 6-3, 7-5.

Malkin earned the Gamecocks lone point of the match after winning in straight sets of 7-5, 6-4 over Frencesca Mattioli. No. 103 Leyla Risso got the Volunteers within one of clinching with a 7-6(2), 6-2 win over Lancelot.

With Tennessee up 3-1 the decision was down to courts 2, 5 and 6 who were all in third sets. It was ultimately Maeve Thornton from the No. 5 position who secured the 4-1 wins for the Volunteers after topping Larsson in a three-set comeback.

The Gamecocks return home on Sun., March 9 at 1:00 p.m.

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

(25) South Carolina 1, (6) Tennessee 4

Doubles (order of finish: 1,3)

  1. Elza Tomase/Maeve Thornton (UT) def. #36 Kaitlyn Carnicella/Sarah Hamner (SC) 6-0
  2. Bella Bergkvist Larsson/Olympe Lancelot (SC) led #52 Catherine Aulia/Leyla Risso (UT) 5-3
  3. Conley Raidt/Saray Yli-Piipari (UT) def. Helena Buchwald/Misa Malkin (SC) 6-3

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

  1. #8 Elza Tomase (UT) def. #19 Sarah Hamner (SC) 6-3, 7-5
  2. #36 Catherine Aulia (UT) led Kaitlyn Carnicella (SC) 5-7, 6-2, 5-2, unfinished
  3. #103 Leyla Risso (UT) def. Olympe Lancelot (SC) 7-6(2), 6-2
  4. #93 Misa Malkin (SC) def. Francesca Mattioli (UT) 7-5, 6-4
  5. Maeve Thornton (UT) def. Bella Bergkvist Larsson (SC) 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
  6. Helena Buchwald (SC) led Vanesa Suarez (UT) 6-3, 3-6, 4-3, unfinished

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