No. 19 Gamecocks Open SEC Slate

COLUMBIA, S.C. (USC SID) – No. 19 South Carolina women’s tennis opens its SEC slate this weekend on the road, facing No. 20 Texas A&M Friday, March 3 in College Station at 5 p.m. and LSU Sunday, March, 5 in Baton Rouge at 11 a.m.  The Gamecocks are coming off of a home doubleheader sweep over then No. 39 William & Mary, 6-1, and Charlotte, 4-0.

“We are excited for two great tests on the road to kick off the SEC season. We feel like we are fighting hard but can play better tennis,” said head coach Kevin Epley. “Texas A&M and LSU are both great, well-coached teams and we are looking forward to see how we stack up early in the SEC season.”

GAMECOCK NOTABLES:
–       The Gamecocks are 8-2 on the season, their two losses coming from then No. 21 Arizona St. and No. 3 North Carolina.
–       The Gamecocks boast four ranked; Ingrid Gamarra Martins (29), Mia Horvit (99), Paige Cline (110) and Silvia Chinellato (119).
–       The doubles pairing of Paige Cline and Hadley Berg is ranked No. 27 nationally.
–       Berg is undefeated in singles play this season, adding a 2-0 record last weekend to stretch her win-streak to nine.

QUICK HITS: NO. 20 TEXAS A&M
–       The Aggies are 8-3 in dual play this season with losses to then No. 3 Pepperdine and No. 13 Michigan with a win over No. 10 Duke.
–       Brooke Austin and Kourtney Keegan are ranked 14th nationally as a doubles pair.
–       Two are ranked for TAMU, Rachel Pierson (45) and Rutuja Bhosale (75).
–       Head coach Mark Weaver is in his second season with Texas A&M women’s tennis team.
–       TAMU finished last season ranked No. 39, going 17-11 overall, falling to Stanford, 4-3, in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

QUICK HITS: NO. 37 LSU
–       The Tigers will face No. 1 Florida Friday before facing the Gamecocks on Sunday.
–       LSU is 7-2 in dual play this season with losses from No. 24 Ole Miss, 4-2, and No. 36 Tulane, 4-3.
–       Three Tigers are ranked in singles Jade Lewis (52), Joana Valle Costa (87) and Ryann Foster (95).
–       One doubles duo is ranked, Joana Valle Costa and Ryann Foster come in at No. 42 nationally.
–       LSU is led by co-head coaches Julia and Michael Sell who have been at LSU for three years.

UP NEXT

After facing Texas A&M and LSU this weekend, the Gamecocks continue their road LSU slate heading to Jacksonville, Fla. to face No. 1 Florida Saturday, March 11 at 1 p.m. For the latest information on South Carolina women’s tennis follow the Gamecocks on Twitter and Instagram, @gamecockwtennis or check in at GamecocksOnline.com.