Tulsa, Okla. – South Carolina men’s tennis doubles pair Connor Thomson and Toby Samuel earned the programs first ever title at the ITA All-American Championships on Sunday. The Gamecocks upset No. T-26 Brian Cernoch and Ryan Seggerman of North Carolina to earn the right to be called National Champions.
The Gamecock pair got off to a hot start on the day, breaking the Tar Heels on their first service game to go up 3-0. The gap was too much for North Carolina’s pair to overcome and the Gamecocks took the first set 6-3.
The second set started in a similar fashion with the Gamecocks going up 3-0, but the Tar Heels weren’t going down easy. Cernoch and Seggerman went on a four-game win streak to take their first lead of the match 4-3. Samuel and Thomson didn’t give in, winning each of their following service games to force a tiebreak decision.
The tiebreak initially appeared evenly matched, but the Gamecocks were able to break away at 5-5 to win the tiebreak 7-5, earning the set and match for the title.
Samuel and Thomson upset No. 15, 16, T-26, and 29 on their way through the main draw to earn their maiden title together. Through five opponents, the Gamecocks dropped only one set.
This maiden title is the first ITA All-American title in South Carolina men’s program history. The Gamecocks are the first SEC pair to win an All-American doubles title since Florida in 2017 and are the first to win the doubles title in straight sets since California in 2016.
The Gamecocks will be in action next at the ITA Carolina Regionals in Durham, N.C. The Regionals will run Oct. 21 through Oct. 25.
For all the latest South Carolina men’s tennis information, continue to follow GamecocksOnline.com or the team on social media (@GamecockMTennis).
Main Draw Doubles Finals
(37) Toby Samuel/Connor Thomson (SC) def. (T-26) Brian Cernoch/Ryan Seggerman (UNC) 6-3, 7-6(5)