Gamecocks Sweep Kentucky in Lexington – University of South Carolina Athletics

Lexington, Ky. – No. 17 South Carolina women’s tennis swept No. 64 Kentucky 4-0 on their home courts in Lexington on Friday evening.

The Gamecocks breezed through doubles and were able to take three singles matches to clinch. In doubles, the Gamecocks claimed the point with ease, winning matches at the Nos. 1 and 3 positions. At the top of the lineup, No. 23 Ayana Akli and Sarah Hamner claimed their victory 6-1 and shortly after Misa Malkin and Olympe Lancelot won their match 6-0 to clinch the point.

In singles, the momentum went with the Wildcats to start. With only four indoor courts available, the home team claimed sets at each of the top three spots in the lineup. Elise Mills at No. 4 was the only Gamecock to claim a first set and she was also first to put a point on the board. Mills came out on the right side of a tiebreak 7-6(5) in the first set and came back to take the second set 6-3 for her victory.

The next point was from No. 12 Hamner who battled from behind for her win. After dropping the first set 3-6, she evened things with a 6-3 second set and closed out her match 6-1 for the point. The match was clinched by No. 6 Akli at the top of the lineup. After giving up her first set 4-6, Akli stormed back to win it with a 6-4 and 6-3 second and third set.

The women’s tennis team will continue action on the road, traveling to Nashville to face Vanderbilt. The match will begin at 2:00 p.m. ET.

South Carolina 4, Kentucky 0

Doubles (order of finish: 1, 3)

Ayana Akli/Sarah Hamner (SC) def. Makayla Mills/Elizabeth Stevens (UK) 6-1

Shahar Biran/Elise Mills (SC) vs. Ellie Eades/Zoe Hammong (UK) 4-1, unfinished

Misa Malkin/Olympe Lancelot (SC) def. Ellie Myers/Julia Zhu (UK) 6-0

Singles (order of finish: 4, 2, 1)

Ayana Akli (SC) def. Zoe Hammong (UK) 4-6, 6-4, 6-3

Sarah Hamner (SC) def. Elizabeth Stevens (UK) 3-6, 6-3, 6-1

Shahar Biran (SC) vs. Ellie Eades (UK) 4-6, 6-4, 4-2

Elise Mills (SC) def. Julia Zhu (UK) 7-6(5), 6-3

Misa Malkin (SC) vs. Ellie Myers