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Gamecocks Fall to No. 12 Oklahoma
Women's Tennis  . 

Gamecocks Fall to No. 12 Oklahoma

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The No. 21 South Carolina women’s tennis team fell 2-4 in a hard-fought match against No. 12 Oklahoma at home on Friday evening.

The Gamecocks struck first in doubles play when No. 26 Sarah Hamner and Kaitlyn Carnicella took down Julia Garcia Ruiz and Alina Schcherbinina 6-3 from the top of the lineup. Helena Buchwald and Lauren Friedman finished their match next and fell 4-6, leveling the score.

It came down to No. 77 Olympe Lancelot and Bella Bergkvist Larsson playing on the third line. The duo pushed the match to 5-5 before the Sooners surged ahead, claiming the next two consecutive games to win the match 7-5 and clinch the doubles point.

Three Gamecocks took first set wins to pick up the momentum going into singles play. Hamner went up 6-3, Carnicella swept her set 6-0 and Misa Malkin took a 6-2 advantage.

Oklahoma extended its lead to 2-0 when No. 103 Salakthip Ounmuang defeated Lancelot 6-0, 6-0 on court 3. Larsson fell to Ava Catanzarite 6-0, 6-2 to put the Sooners within one point of clinching.

South Carolina got on the board when Carnicella took down No. 19 Julia Garcia Ruiz 6-0, 6-2 in a dominant showing to make the score 3-1 and pick up her highest ranked win of the season. Hamner defeated No. 26 Alina Schcherbinina 6-3, 7-5 to cut the Sooner’s lead to 3-2.

While Buchwald forced a second set tie break on court 6, Malkin dropped her second set to force a third set tie breaker from court 4. Buchwald fought through long rallies but ultimately fell 2-6, 6-7 (1-7) to allow the Sooners to clinch the win.

The Gamecocks return home on Sun., March 23 to face Arkansas 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).

(21) South Carolina 2, (12) Oklahoma 4

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

  1. #26 Sarah Hamner/Kaitlyn Carnicella (SC) def. Julia Garcia Ruiz/Alina Scherbinina (OU) 6-3
  2. Salakthip Ounmuang/Chloe Noel (OU) def. #77 Olympe Lancelot/Bella Larsson (SC) 7-5
  3. Ava Catanzarite/Gloriana Nahum (OU) def. Lauren Friedman/Helena Buchwald (SC) 6-4

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

  1. #23 Sarah Hamner (SC) def. #26 Alina Scherbinina (OU) 6-3, 7-5
  2. #93 Kaitlyn Carnicella (SC) def. #19 Julia Garcia Ruiz (OU) 6-0, 6-2
  3. #103 Salakthip Ounmuang (OU) def. Olympe Lancelot (SC) 6-0, 6-0
  4. #113 Misa Malkin (SC) led #70 Emma Staker (OU) 6-2, 0-6, 5-4
  5. Ava Catanzarite (OU) def. Bella Larsson (SC) 6-0, 6-2
  6. Gloriana Nahum (OU) def. Helena Buchwald (SC) 6-2, 7-6(1)

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