Gamecocks Host Another Ranked Opponent in Midweek Match

Live Video and Scoring from Carolina Tennis Center
(iPhone and iPad Compatible)

COLUMBIA, SC Feb. 19, 2013 – No. 49 South Carolina will take on No. 39 UNC Wilmington on Wed. Feb. 20, at 2 p.m. at the Carolina Tennis Center. The Seahawks are the third-straight top-40 opponent the Gamecocks (7-3) have hosted. Parking in the Athletics Village Garage on Heyward Street and admission to the tennis match are free.

Last weekend South Carolina came up short against then-No. 36 Wake Forest, but upset then-No.34 NC State to improve to 7-3 on the season. Junior Tsvetan Mihov is now nationally ranked at No. 94 after his stellar performance at No. 1 singles. Mihov won two tiebreaks against Wake Forest, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (7), and made short work of his opponent from NC State with a 6-1, 6-3 victory. Thiago Pinheiro also had a remarkable weekend winning in three hard-fought sets against both opponents, and clinching the 4-3 victory for the Gamecocks against the Wolfpack. Andrew Adams got his first victory of the season in the No. 3 spot with a comeback three-set victory against NC State, and Kyle Koch also tacked on a victory at No. 5 singles in that match.

UNC Wilmington holds a 6-1 record, falling only to then-No. 12 Florida. The Seahawks return all nine players from last season, including two nationally ranked doubles teams. The duo of Chris Cooprider and Kosta Blank are currently No. 8 and are 3-0 on the season. The duo of Sam Williams and Rafael Aita are No. 45 and hold a 4-0 record, while Aita is also No. 17 in singles. The Seahawks finished with a 17-7 record last season, went 3-2 in the Colonial Athletic Association and appeared in the NCAA Tournament.

The Gamecocks will travel to Virginia this weekend where they will face off against William & Mary on Fri., Feb. 22, and VCU on Sun., Feb. 24.