Cary, N.C. – All six South Carolina men’s tennis competitors at the ITA Carolina Region Championships earned wins on the first day of competion. Four Gamecocks advanced to the main draw round of 32 while two advanced to the consolation round of 32.
Casey Hoole, Connor Thomson, James Story, and Jake Beasley all earned straight set wins in both the first and second rounds of competition to advance to the round of 32.
South Carolina is one of only six schools to have more than one player remaining in the main draw after two rounds of elimination. NC State currently has the most still remaining in the draw with six, while North Carolina and Duke are tied for second place with five each. South Carolina and Wake Forest are tied with four players each remaining in the draw and while Clemson has two remaining.
Sophomore Carter Morgan and freshman Lucas da Silva both fell in tough three sets battles in the first round of competition, but later went on to earn wins in the consolation round of 64. Da Silva eared a dominant 6-1, 6-1 win over Jerry Barton of Furman while Morgan won his match over Wofford’s Callum Rendle in a 10-point tiebreaker third set.
Play will continue at the Regional Championships on Saturday with singles beginning at 9 a.m. Doubles will follow with matches beginning not before 11 a.m. Full draws and match times area available on the tournament webpage.
For all the latest South Carolina men’s tennis information, continue to follow GamecocksOnline.com or the team on social media (@GamecockMTennis).
Singles Round of 128
Casey Hoole (SC) def. Robbie Young (Wofford) 6-1, 6-3
(T-89) Connor Thomson (SC) def. Nicholas Campbell (Elon) 6-2, 6-2
James Story (SC) def. Ashe Ray (Wofford) 6-1, 6-1
Aditya Narayana (Charlotte) def. Lucas da Silva (SC) 7-6(5), 0-6, 6-2
Zac Larke (CofC) def. Carter Morgan (SC) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
Jake Beasley (SC) def. Jordy Larke (CofC) 6-0, 6-1
Singles Round of 64
Casey Hoole (SC) def. Vasco Prata (Charlotte) 6-1, 6-2
(T-89) Connor Thomson (SC) def. Saud Alhogbani (Wake) 6-2, 6-1
James Story (SC) def. Edoardo Bottino (Queens) 7-5, 6-4
Jake Beasley (SC) def. Connor Krug (Duke) 7-6(5), 6-1
Singles Consolation Round of 64
Lucas da Silva (SC) def. Jerry Barton (Furman) 6-1, 6-1
Carter Morgan (SC) def. Callum Rendle (Wofford) 6-4, 1-6, 1-0(6)