Sunday, January 22
Columbia, S.C.
Noon
North Carolina
3
at
4
South Carolina
Chris Li
Photo by: ATHONY SORBELLINI
No. 9 South Carolina Edges Men's Tennis In Thriller, 4-3
January 22, 2023 | Men's Tennis
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 nationally in singles, before Samuel came back to win the final two sets to tie the score at three points apiece. Thomson then won the clincher at No. 2 to conclude a spirited, exciting match.
The Gamecock win snapped a five-game winning streak in the series for UNC since the start of the 2020 season. The Tar Heels are now 2-1 this season.
Carolina will return to action next weekend at home by hosting a regional in the ITA Kickoff Weekend. UNC, Columbia, Harvard and Oklahoma State will compete in the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center for a spot in next month's ITA National Team Championship field in Chicago.
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 nationally in singles, before Samuel came back to win the final two sets to tie the score at three points apiece. Thomson then won the clincher at No. 2 to conclude a spirited, exciting match.
The Gamecock win snapped a five-game winning streak in the series for UNC since the start of the 2020 season. The Tar Heels are now 2-1 this season.
Carolina will return to action next weekend at home by hosting a regional in the ITA Kickoff Weekend. UNC, Columbia, Harvard and Oklahoma State will compete in the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center for a spot in next month's ITA National Team Championship field in Chicago.
Tennis Match Results
North Carolina vs South Carolina
01/22/2023 at Columbia, SC (Carolina Indoor Tennis Center)
#9 South Carolina 4, #18 North Carolina 3
Singles competition
1. #15 Toby Samuel (SC) def. Brian Cernoch (NC) 2-6, 7-5, 6-4
2. Connor Thomson (SC) def. #9 Ryan Seggerman (NC) 4-6, 6-2, 6-4
3. Karl Poling (NC) def. Raphael Lambling (SC) 6-4, 6-2
4. James Story (SC) def. Anuj Watane (NC) 6-3, 7-5
5. Chris Li (NC) def. #56 Casey Hoole (SC) 6-2, 6-4
6. Peter Murphy (NC) def. Jake Beasley (SC) 6-4, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. #1 Toby Samuel/Connor Thomson (SC) vs. Ryan Seggerman/Casey Kania (NC) 6-6 (1-5), unfinished
2. Jake Beasley/James Story (SC) def. Brian Cernoch/Benjamin Kittay (NC) 6-4
3. Raphael Lambling/Casey Hoole (SC) def. Peter Murphy/Karl Poling (NC) 6-3
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (5,6,3,4,1,2)
North Carolina vs South Carolina
01/22/2023 at Columbia, SC (Carolina Indoor Tennis Center)
#9 South Carolina 4, #18 North Carolina 3
Singles competition
1. #15 Toby Samuel (SC) def. Brian Cernoch (NC) 2-6, 7-5, 6-4
2. Connor Thomson (SC) def. #9 Ryan Seggerman (NC) 4-6, 6-2, 6-4
3. Karl Poling (NC) def. Raphael Lambling (SC) 6-4, 6-2
4. James Story (SC) def. Anuj Watane (NC) 6-3, 7-5
5. Chris Li (NC) def. #56 Casey Hoole (SC) 6-2, 6-4
6. Peter Murphy (NC) def. Jake Beasley (SC) 6-4, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. #1 Toby Samuel/Connor Thomson (SC) vs. Ryan Seggerman/Casey Kania (NC) 6-6 (1-5), unfinished
2. Jake Beasley/James Story (SC) def. Brian Cernoch/Benjamin Kittay (NC) 6-4
3. Raphael Lambling/Casey Hoole (SC) def. Peter Murphy/Karl Poling (NC) 6-3
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (5,6,3,4,1,2)
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
2,3
#1 Singles Match
123
654
Toby Samuel / 0 (15/-) [SC]
276
#2 Singles Match
123
624
Connor Thomson / 0 [SC]
466
#3 Singles Match
12
66
Raphael Lambling / 0 [SC]
42
#4 Singles Match
12
35
James Story / 0 [SC]
67
#5 Singles Match
12
66
Casey Hoole / 0 (56/-) [SC]
24
#6 Singles Match
12
66
Jake Beasley / 0 [SC]
41
Order of Finish:
5,6,3,4,1,2
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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