Tennis teams exit conference tourney after one win each
The men’s and women’s tennis teams were both in action at their respective SEC tournaments over the weekend, and both teams picked up victories in their first contests before eventually falling to higher seeds.
The men kicked off their tournament run Thursday as the No. 7 seed with a noon meeting with 10th-seeded Alabama. The Gamecocks claimed a 4-1 victory over the Crimson Tide behind a doubles-point triumph and a match-clinching singles win by freshman Andrew Schafer. South Carolina would drop its first singles matchup in a meeting between the two teams’ No. 1 players, but Schafer would cap off three consecutive singles wins for the Gamecocks.
The men’s tennis team’s conference tournament run ended Friday against eventual SEC champion Texas A&M, the No. 2 seed.
After losing the doubles point to the Aggies, South Carolina’s only player to earn a singles victory was junior Kyle Koch on the No. 5 court on the way to a 4-1 overall loss to Texas A&M.
The women received the No. 8 seed for their conference tournament and began play on Thursday against ninth-seeded Ole Miss.
The Gamecocks moved past the Rebels with a 4-2 victory behind a doubles-point win and singles triumphs from juniors Elixane Lechemia and Meghan Blevins as well as freshman Brigit Folland.
The women would also exit the tournament Friday, losing to No. 1 seed Alabama in a 4-2 decision.