Orlando, Fla. – South Carolina’s men’s tennis juniors Connor Thomson and Toby Samuel concluded the season for the team on Wednesday, falling in the Round of 32 in the NCAA Doubles Championships.
Samuel and Thomson, the No. 1 overall seed, faced No. 10 Ozan Baris and Max Sheldon of Michigan State in the first round of doubles play. The first set began evenly, but the Spartans perfectly timed a late break to go up 5-4 and serve it out 6-4.
The Gamecock pair could never seem to find their footing in the second set, giving up two breaks for the Spartans to take the set 6-2.
Samuel and Thomson will still be named ITA Doubles All-Americans for having entered the Championships as a seeded pair. The honor marks Thomson’s second consecutive time earning the accolade and Samuel’s first career All-American honor.
They conclude the season with a team-leading 24-6 record together and became the program’s first ever No. 1-ranked doubles team.
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Doubles Round of 32
(10) Ozan Baris/Max Sheldon (MSU) def. (1) Toby Samuel/Connor Thomson (SC) 6-4, 6-2