Women's Tennis . March 14, 2025

Malkin Delivers Clinch to Help Gamecocks Defeat Rebels in Comeback Thriller

OXFORD, Miss. – The No. 25 South Carolina women’s tennis team overcame an early lead from Ole Miss to pick up its second consecutive SEC Victory and start off its two-match road trip on a high note.

Due to a retirement from the Gamecocks, Ole Miss was able to grab the first doubles win from the No. 3 position and attempt to set the tone early. No. 36 Kaitlyn Carnicella and Sarah Hamner responded with a 6-3 win from the top of the lineup to even things out for the Garnet & Black.

The doubles point was up to the match on court 2 where Bella Bergkvist Larsson and Olympe Lancelot were down 3-4 to Andrea Nova and Brooklyn Olson. The Rebels extended their lead to 5-3 but Larsson and Lancelot fought back to close the deficit to 4-5. Despite the Gamecocks’ final efforts, it was Ole Miss that ultimately claimed the doubles point with a 6-4 win from Nova and Olson.

Singles action started off split for the two programs as the Gamecocks and Rebels claimed three first set wins apiece. Larsson (6-3, 6-1) and Carnicella (6-3, 6-3) earned South Carolina its first lead of the day, extending the score to 2-1 with their respective wins.

The Rebels turned it up a notch as Emma Kettee took down Lauren Friedman 6-3, 6-3 to even out the match to 2-2. Hamner regained the lead after winning from the No. 1 position with a 6-3, 6-4 showing before Lancelot dropped her match to bring the score to 3-all.

After losing her first set in a tightly contested tiebreaker, Misa Malkin bounced back to win her second and was in a decider set to determine the outcome of the match. Using a final surge, the senior was able to cruise past Alice Soulie with a 6-2 showing and clinch the match for the Gamecocks on a deuce. This win marks her 10th singles victory of the season, the most dual match wins by any Gamecock so far.

South Carolina continues its road trip on Sun., March 16 at No. 9 LSU for a 12:00 p.m. (ET) match.

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

(25) South Carolina 4, (42) Ole Miss 3

Doubles (order of finish: 3,1,2)

#36 Kaitlyn Carnicella/Sarah Hamner (SC) def. #50 Ludmila Kareisova/Anaelle Leclercq (OM) 6-3
Andrea Nova/Brooklyn Olson (OM) def. Bella Bergkvist Larsson/Olympe Lancelot (SC) 6-4
Lucie Petruzelova/Rachel Krzyzak (OM) def. Helena Buchwald/Lauren Friedman 2-1, retired

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