The Daily Gamecock

South Carolina men’s tennis falls to Mississippi State in SEC Tournament semifinals

The No. 22 Gamecocks men’s tennis team lost to No. 6 Mississippi in the SEC Tournament semifinals on Saturday afternoon at the Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex in Gainesville, Florida. 

South Carolina has not made a trip to the SEC semifinals since 1999.

The Gamecocks made their way back 20 years later, but fell 4-2 to the Bulldogs.

South Carolina started the match by securing the doubles point, but the Bulldogs kept the Gamecocks from winning singles matches.

The Bulldogs dominated singles match play with a 3-1 lead against the Gamecocks.

No. 3 Nuno Borges for the Bulldogs ended No. 6 Paul Jubb’s winning streak by defeating him 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.

No. 119 Daniel Rodrigues gained a singles victory for the Gamecocks by defeating No. 61 Giovanni Oradini 6-1, 4-6, 7-5.

But the Bulldogs won the battle after Trevor Foshey defeated Thomas Brown 6-4, 6-2.

"Give credit to South Carolina. They played really well in doubles, won three sets and almost won a fourth in singles,” Bulldogs head coach Matt Roberts said in an interview with SEC Network.

The Bulldogs advanced to the SEC finals to win their second-straight SEC championship.

South Carolina finished the season playing above .500 with a 17-9 record.

Although the Gamecocks did not win the SEC championship this season, the team still has an opportunity to play in the upcoming NCAA tournament.

The 2019 NCAA Tournament Selection Show will air on Monday, April 29 at 6 p.m. ET.

The NCAA will also have an individual tournament selection show the following day at 6 p.m. The individual tournament allows highly-ranked singles players to compete for their own individual title.


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