Women’s Tennis Upsets No. 23 Vanderbilt

Columbia, S.C. – ­No. 34 South Carolina girls’s tennis defeated No. 23 Vanderbilt 4-1 on Sunday afternoon. After dropping the doubles level, the Gamecocks have been dominant in singles, incomes 4 straight for the victory.

In doubles, the Commodores clinched the purpose with a 6-3 win from the No. 2 place and a 7-5 win from the No. 3 place. The No. 1 matchup was halfway by way of a tiebreaker when play was suspended.

In singles, it was all Gamecocks with No. 14 Sarah Hamner getting the primary win to even the match at 1-1. Towards No. 80 Anna Ross, Hamner was dominant, taking the match 6-3, 6-4 for her second singles win in as many matches.

Senior Elise Mills was subsequent to place some extent on the board with a ranked win over No. 113 Anessa Lee. Mills took her first set 6-3 and battled by way of a gritty tiebreaker to take the second 7-6(4) to provide the Gamecocks the lead.

The following singles win got here from Courtroom 3 the place sophomore Gracie Mulville took on No. 60  Bridget Stammel. Mulville and Stammel battled by way of the primary set and wanted a tiebreak for the choice, however the Commodore got here out on prime 7-6(2). Within the second set, Mulville was relentless, successful the set 6-1 to power a 3rd.

Within the closing set the Gamecock began sizzling, going up 5-0, however Stammel fought again, taking the following two video games. Mulville was lastly in a position to shut out her match with another sport win, taking the third set 6-2. The win over No. 60 in now Mulville’s highest ranked win of her profession.

All three remaining matches have been in third units however it was senior Ayana Akli who earned the clinch. The No. 7 ranked Gamecock confronted No. 48 Celiia-Belle Mohr of Vanderbilt from the highest spot within the lineup. The primary set was a again and fourth battle that wanted a tiebreak to settle. The Commodore had all of the momentum within the tiebreaker and got here out on prime 7-6(2). Within the second set, Akli broke Mohr on her first service sport to go up 3-0 and held the lead all through, successful the set 6-3.

The ultimate set was useless even with Mohr serving first and every participant taking their very own service video games by way of the ten. Whereas even at 5-5, Akli picked up a a lot wanted break and was in a position to serve out the match with a 7-5 closing set for the win.

The ladies’s tennis workforce is now 8-6 total with a 3-2 mark in convention play. The win marks the workforce’s first top-25 ranked win of the season.

The Gamecocks will now face their first SEC highway match of the season, making the journey to Mississippi to tackle Ole Miss and Mississippi State on March 24 and 26.

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

(34) South Carolina 4, (23) Vanderbilt 1

Doubles (order of end: 2, 3)

1. Ayana Akli/Allie Gretkowski (SC) vs. Anna Ross/Holly Employees (VANDY-W) 6-6 (4-5), unfinished
2. Celia-Belle Mohr/Marcella Cruz (VANDY-W) def. Sarah Hamner/Gracie Mulville (SC) 6-3
3. Anessa Lee/Bridget Stammel (VANDY-W) def. Misa Malkin/Elise Mills (SC) 7-5

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

1. #7 Ayana Akli (SC) def. #48 Celia-Belle Mohr (VANDY-W) 6-7 (2-7), 6-3, 7-5
2. #14 Sarah Hamner (SC) def. #80 Anna Ross (VANDY-W) 6-3, 6-4
3. Gracie Mulville (SC) def. #60 Bridget Stammel (VANDY-W) 6-7 (2-7), 6-1, 6-2
4. Misa Malkin (SC) vs. #111 Holly Employees (VANDY-W) 6-7 (3-7), 6-3, 4-2, unfinished
5. Elise Mills (SC) def. #113 Anessa Lee (VANDY-W) 6-3, 7-6 (7-4)
6. McKenna Schaefbauer (SC) vs. Amy Stevens (VANDY-W) 7-5, 5-7, 4-3, unfinished