Malkin Clinches in Unbelievable Comeback

Columbia, S.C. – ­South Carolina girls’s tennis erased a 3 level deficit on Friday to defeat Kentucky 4-3 in Columbia. In a match that spanned practically 4 hours and two amenities, the Gamecocks achieved a comeback for the ages after dropping the doubles level and two singles matches.

The match started on the Carolina Tennis Middle with doubles the place the Wildcats made an announcement early. The newly paired up Gamecock duo of Sarah Hamner and Gracie Mulville had been first to strike, incomes a 6-1 win from the No. 2 place, however Kentucky didn’t give in, taking wins from the Nos. 1 and three positions to assert the doubles level.

Play transitioned to singles and matches had been on their approach to second units when play was suspended as a result of rain. With no clear finish in sight, the choice was made to maneuver to the Carolina Indoor Tennis Middle to proceed motion

As soon as indoors, all momentum was on the facet of the Wildcats, with Kentucky taking wins on Courts 6 and 5 to go up 3-0.

No. 7 Ayana Akli was the primary Gamecock to place a degree on the board, successful her match 6-1, 6-4 over No. 74 Florencia Urrutia. Akli is now an ideal 9-0 in twin play and South Carolina stays the one group within the league with an ideal mark on the high spot within the lineup.

No. 14 Hamner was subsequent to place up a degree, with an fascinating match that took three units for the choice. Hamner received her first set 6-4 whereas on the out of doors courts, however couldn’t get going indoors, giving up her second set 0-6. The Gamecock was lastly in a position to proper her ship and flipped the script on her opponent, blanking the Wildcat within the closing set 6-0.

Mulville was the one to tie the match up at 3-3 for the group along with her win from the No. 3 place. The sophomore took down her opponent 6-4, 7-5 for a a lot wanted win after having been in a dry spell for the final 4 matches. The win is Mulville’s first SEC victory of the season.

With the rating evened, all eyes turned to Courtroom 4 the place sophomore Misa Malkin was taking up Kentucky’s Lidia Gonzalez. The Wildcat got here out sturdy, taking the primary set 6-1, however Malkin responded with a 6-2 win within the second set to even the choice.

The ultimate set appeared even initially with Malkin serving first and every competitor taking their very own service video games via the primary 5. Whereas up 3-2, Malkin was in a position to earn a break and by no means seemed again, taking the ultimate set 6-2 to clinch the match for the Gamecocks. South Carolina is now 7-6 total and 2-2 in SEC play.

The ladies’s tennis group will full their five-match homestand on Sunday, internet hosting No. 23 Vanderbilt on the Carolina Tennis Middle at 1p.m.

For all the most recent South Carolina girls’s tennis info, proceed to comply with GamecocksOnline.com or the group on social media (@GamecockWTennis).

#34 South Carolina 4, #68 Kentucky 3

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

1. Elizabth Stevens/Carlota Molina (UK) def. Ayana Akli/Allie Gretkowski (SC) 6-3
2. Sarah Hamner/Gracie Mulville (SC) def. Makayla Miills/Florencia Urrutia (UK) 6-1
3. Ellie Eades/Zoe Hammond (UK) def. Misa Malkin/Alice Otis (SC) 6-2

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

1. #7 Ayana Akli (SC) def. #74 Florencia Urrutia (UK) 6-1, 6-4
2. #14 Sarah Hamner (SC) def. Elizabth Stevens (UK) 6-4, 0-6, 6-0
3. Gracie Mulville (SC) def. Carlota Molina (UK) 6-4, 7-5
4. Misa Malkin (SC) def. Lidia Gonzalez (UK) 1-6, 6-2, 6-2
5. Zoe Hammond (UK) def. Elise Mills (SC) 6-4, 6-1
6. Maialen Morante (UK) def. Allie Gretkowski (SC) 6-2, 6-2