RALEIGH, N.C. — The 16th-ranked South Carolina men’s tennis team survived a nearly five-hour marathon match on Saturday in Raleigh to advance to the NCAA Tournament's Round of 16.
The Gamecocks knocked off the host NC State Wolfpack 4-3 in Raleigh to punch their ticket to the Super Regionals for the fourth consecutive season. N.C. State had come in ranked 14th in the country.
At the No. 1 court in doubles, No. 43 Toby Samuel and James Story won 6-2.
After N.C. State won the No. 2 double match, Jelani Sarr and Lucas Andrade da Silva won the No. 3 doubles match 6-3 to clinch the doubles point for the Gamecocks.
During the break between doubles and singles, rain began in Raleigh, forcing the match to be moved indoors. The NC State facility only has four courts available so the top of the lineup began singles matches with the remaining players watching on.
At #1 singles, Toby Samuel, ranked sixth nationally, defeated No. 54 Robin Catry 7-5, 6-1 for his 21st victory of the season and 98th of his career.
With the Gamecocks leading 3-2, it came down to #5 and #6 singles.
The No. 5 match was the first to conclude, with USC freshman Jalani Sarr falling to Damien Salvestre 6-2, 6-3, allowing the Wolfpack to even the match at 3-3.
The deciding match featured Lucas Da Silva, who had already claimed his first set over Jakub Katuch 6-4. After Katuch took the second set 6-3 to even things up, a third and final set would be played to decide the match.
With a 5-2 advantage, Da Silva broke his opponent in the final game to close the match out 6-2.
South Carolina’s win marks the fourth consecutive season under head coach Josh Goffi that the team has advanced to the NCAA Round of 16 or better. Throughout the history of the program, South Carolina has advanced to the Round of 16 ten times (5 under the 64-team format) in 29 appearances in the tournament.
The Gamecocks will now move on to face No. 2 Virginia in Charlottesville. The match will take place at the Boars Head Resort on Fri., May 10. The two teams faced in the season-opener at Virginia with South Carolina winning the match 4-3.
