Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina women’s tennis earned its first ranked win of the season, knocking off No. 23 Georgia Tech 4-3 on Friday. The Gamecocks claimed the doubles point and clinched the match 4-0 before remaining matches made the final score 4-3.
In doubles, graduates Shahar Biran and Elise Mills were first to claim a win, shutting out their opponents 6-0. The Yellow Jackets evened the doubles decision with a win 2-6 from the top of the lineup.
All eyes fell to the No. 2 position where Sarah Hamner and Misa Malkin were battling Kylie Bilchev and Alejandra Cruz. The Gamecock pair blasted off to a 4-0 start to the match and carried the momentum to the end, winning it 6-3 to clinch the doubles point.
In singles play, Malkin got right to business, taking on Given Roach on Court 4. The Gamecock breezed through her first set 6-3 and came back to take the second 6-2 for the win.
South Carolina’s next point came at the hands of No. 76 Biran who took her first set 6-4 over Cruz and shut the Yellow Jacket out in the final set 6-0.
The match clinch came from No. 4 Hamner who defeated No. 123 Bilchev after coming out on the right side of a tiebreaker first set 7-6(5), and also shutting her opponent out in the second set 6-0.
Remaining matches played out with No. 6 Akli falling to No. 107 Carol Lee and Mills and Olympe Lancelot both falling in three sets.
The women’s tennis team will be in action next on Feb. 14, hosting rival Clemson at 4:00 p.m.
For all the latest South Carolina women’s tennis information, continue to follow GamecocksOnline.com or the team on social media (@GamecockWTennis).
South Carolina 4, Wake Forest 3
Doubles (order of finish: 3, 1, 2)
- Carol Lee/Kate Sharabura (GT) def. Ayana Akli/Olympe Lancelot (SC) 6-2
- Sarah Hamner/Misa Malkin (SC) def. Kylie Bilchev/Alejandra Cruz (GT) 6-3
- Elise Mills/Shahar Biran (SC) def. Mahak Jain/Given Roach (GT) 6-0
Singles (order of finish: 4, 3, 2, 1, 6, 5)
- #107 Carol Lee (GT) def. #6 Ayana Akli (SC) 7-6 (7-5), 6-4
- #4 Sarah Hamner (SC) def. #123 Kylie Bilchev (GT) 7-6 (7-2), 6-0
- #76 Shahar Biran (SC) def. Alejandra Cruz (GT) 6-4, 6-0
- Misa Malkin (SC) def. Given Roach (GT) 6-3, 6-2
- Mahak Jain (GT) def. Elise Mills (SC) 1-6, 6-4, 6-3
- Kate Sharabura (GT) def. Olympe Lancelot (SC) 6-4, 6-7 (4-7), 1-0 (11-9)