COLUMBIA, S.C.–Connor Thomson edged Ryan Seggerman in three sets in the clinching match as ninth-ranked South Carolina nipped No. 18 North Carolina, 4-3, in a thrilling, early-season matchup of ranked rivals at the Carolina Indoor Tennis Center on Sunday afternoon.
With the team score tied, 3-3, Thomson broke serve to beat Seggerman, 6-4, in the third set at No. 2 singles. The final result was 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 in Thomson’s favor.
The Gamecocks, ranked No. 9 in this week’s Intercollegiate Tennis Association Top 25, started the afternoon by winning the doubles point to take a 1-0 lead. Jake Beasley and James Story won at No. 2 doubles over UNC’s Brian Cernoch and Benjamin Kittay, 6-4, followed by a 6-3 win by Raphael Lambling and Casey Hoole at No. 3 over Peter Murphy and Karl Poling.
The Tar Heels roared back and took a 3-1 lead in singles play behind three consecutive wins from sophomore Chris Li, Murphy and Poling.
Li got things started by posting the best win of his collegiate career to date, beating the No. 56-ranked Hoole in straight sets at No. 5 singles, 6-2, 6-4. It was his first career singles win over a ranked opponent.
Murphy followed with a 6-4, 6-1 win at No. 6 over Beasley to make the score 2-1 in UNC’s favor. After Poling beat Lambling by a 6-4, 6-2 score at No. 3, the score was 3-1 Tar Heels.
The Gamecocks clawed back, starting with a 6-3, 7-5 win by Story over Anuj Watane at No. 4 singles that made the team score 3-2. Tar Heel graduate student Brian Cernoch won the first set at No. 1 against Toby Samuel, ranked No. 15…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at University of North Carolina Athletics…