CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Drake University men's tennis team dropped a tough 4-1 match to No. 20 South Carolina Sunday morning at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center in Chapel Hill, N.C.
"We have started this season with several unexpected unknowns however, this team continues to work hard and believe in each other. We came here this weekend hoping we could play with some of the best teams in the country and we will leave knowing we can do just that," said Drake head coach
Davidson Kozlowski. "Once again, our doubles play was great. We had chances up 4-1 on the deciding doubles court but came up bit short."
The Bulldogs were just a few points away from winning the pivotal doubles point.
Vinny Gillespie and
Barny Thorold earned a 6-4 over Francisco Cerundolo and Gabriel Friedrich at No. 1 to make a it a win apiece. The doubles point came down to a tiebreaker at No. 2 doubles between Drake's
Ben Clark and
Ben Wood and SC's Thomas Mayronne and Paul Jubb. Mayronne and Jubb managed over come a 4-1 deficit and take the tiebreaker 7-5, giving the Gamecocks a 1-0 lead.
Gillespie tied the match up at 1-1 with a straight set win over No. 57 Cerundolo, 6-3, 6-2 at No. 1 singles.
"Vinny was dialed in all weekend. His doubles and singles play were phenomenal the last two days. He's off to another great start in dual season play, which is big for him after not getting the results he wanted during the fall season," said Kozlowski.
South Carolina's Friedrich earned a straight set win over
Tom Hands, 6-4, 6-0 at No. 2 singles to put the Gamecocks back on top 2-1.
Drake's Thorold took the first set 6-4, but Jubb managed to come back and win the final two sets 6-3, 6-2 at No. 3 singles, extending SC's lead to 3-1.
Mayronne, who is ranked 117th, win the first set 6-0, but Wood edged Mayronne in a second set tiebreaker 8-6 to force a third set. Mayronne jumped out an early lead in the third set to go on to defeat Wood, 6-1 and clinch the 4-1 victory for the Gamecocks.
The Bulldogs return to the Roger Knapp Tennis Center on Friday, Feb. 2 when they host Michigan State. First serve is set for 6 p.m.
#20 South Carolina 4, Drake 1
Jan 28, 2018 at Chapel HIll, N.C. (Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center)
| Singles competition |
| 1. Vinny Gillespie (DU) def. #57 Francisco Cerundolo (SC) 6-3, 6-2 |
| 2. #74 Gabriel Friedrich (SC) def. Tom Hands (DU) 6-4, 6-0 |
| 3. Paul Jubb (SC) def. Barny Thorold (DU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 |
| 4. #63 Yancy Dennis (SC) vs. #124 Ben Clark (DU) 5-7, 6-2, 3-3, unfinished |
| 5. #117 Thomas Mayronne (SC) def. Ben Wood (DU) 6-0, 6-7 (6-8), 6-1 |
| 6. Harrison O'Keefe (SC) vs. Finley Hall (DU) 6-4, 3-6, 6-5, unfinished |
| Match Notes |
| Drake 3-2 |
| South Carolina 5-1; National ranking #20 |
| Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (1,2,3,5) |
