University of Georgia Athletics
Georgia Downs No. 7 South Carolina, 4-3
March 13, 2022 | Men's Tennis
ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia men's tennis freshman Miguel Perez Peña delivered a win at the sixth singles court to seal the No. 8-ranked Bulldogs' 4-3 victory against seventh-ranked South Carolina on Sunday at the Lindsey Hopkins Indoor Center.
The two teams moved indoors due to cold temperatures in the Athens area, setting up a back-and-forth affair between a pair of top-10 programs.
Down 3-2, the Bulldogs relied on courts five and six to deliver the win. Following Blake Croyder's three-set triumph against James Story, Perez Peña ousted Casey Hoole, 6-4, 7-6 (4) to hand Georgia the clincher.
The Bulldogs are now 11-4 overall, 3-1 in the SEC. South Carolina — which defeated No. 1 Tennessee on Friday — falls to 13-4, 2-2 in the league.
"I cannot say enough about our guys," head coach Manuel Diaz said. "They competed so hard. I think everyone was upset at the doubles point — we put ourselves in a position to win that doubles point, but just could not get it done. We have a good number of areas to improve on and have a huge weekend next week. If we clean up a few things, we have a chance against anybody we play. But, I am so pleased to come out of here with a big win in front of a great crowd here today."
Georgia played impressive doubles early on, headlined by Erik Grevelius and Croyder at No. 3. The Bulldog combo went a up a double break 5-2 on a shot by Grevelius at 40-40, before hanging on for the 6-2 victory against Raphael Lambing and Story.
Trent Bryde and Philip Henning stormed out to a 5-0 advantage at No. 2, while Hamish Stewart and Tristan McCormick were locked in a tight battle at the No. 1 court, before falling 6-4.
South Carolina's duo of Jake Beasley and Toby Samuel went on an impressive run to put the match back on serve at 5-all. The two teams went to a tiebreaker at 6-6, where Beasley and Samuel won 10-8 to clinch the doubles point.
In singles, McCormick and Henning helped the Bulldogs jump out to a fast start. After fighting through a first-set tiebreaker, McCormick cruised in the second frame for a 7-6 (4), 6-0 win over Connor Thompson. Henning then used a deciding second-set tiebreaker to take down Toby Samuel, 6-4, 7-6 (4) and put the Bulldogs up 2-1.
South Carolina then tied the match at 2-2 thanks to Lambling's 7-6 (8), 6-4 victory over Bryde.
Stewart once again played a fantastic match at No. 1, but fell just short in a third set, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 to No. 16-ranked Daniel Rodrigues. Down by one, Georgia's hopes now rested with Croyder at No. 5 and Perez Peña at No. 6.
The pair delivered and the Bulldogs held on for the important SEC win.
Next week, Georgia heads to Arkansas on Friday, before battling Tennessee on Sunday.
Tennis Match Results
South Carolina vs Georgia
March 13, 2022 at Dan Magill Tennis Complex
(Athens, Ga.)
#8 Georgia 4, #7 South Carolina 3
Singles
1. #16 Daniel Rodrigues (SC) def. #19 Hamish Stewart (UGA) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
2. #40 Philip Henning (UGA) def. #86 Toby Samuel (SC) 6-4, 7-6 (7-4)
3. #31 Tristan McCormick (UGA) def. Connor Thomson (SC) 7-6 (7-4), 6-0
4. Raphael Lambling (SC) def. #84 Trent Bryde (UGA) 7-6 (8-6), 6-4
5. Blake Croyder (UGA) def. James Story (SC) 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
6. Miguel Perez Pena (UGA) def. Casey Hoole (SC) 6-4, 7-6 (74)
Doubles
1. #30 Daniel Rodrigues/Connor Thomson (SC) def. #55 Tristan McCormick/Hamish Stewart (UGA) 6-4
2. Jake Beasley/Toby Samuel (SC) def. #27 Trent Bryde/Philip Henning (UGA) 7-6 (10-8)
3. #62 Blake Croyder/Erik Grevelius (UGA) def. Raphael Lambling/James Story (SC) 6-2
Match Notes:
South Carolina 13-4, 2-2 SEC; National ranking #7
Georgia 11-4, 3-1 SEC; National ranking #8
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (3,2,4,1,5,6)
Social Media
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Players Mentioned
