Tennis Falls At No. 25 South Carolina

COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri tennis came up just short in doubles and couldn’t grab the momentum in singles, falling 4-0 at No. 25 South Carolina.

The Gamecocks (12-6, 7-2 Southeastern Conference) won their sixth-straight match overall and handed Mizzou (10-12, 1-9 SEC) its fifth-consecutive defeat. 

The Tigers started out strong as Mae Canete and Inah Canete picked up a 6-4, ranked win over 70th-ranked Ayana Akli and Sara Hamner at No. 1 doubles. Both No. 2 and 3 doubles went to the tiebreaker. 

The No. 2 duo of Emelie Schwarte and Andrea Artemedi moved out to a 4-2 lead in the tiebreaker but couldn’t stop a five-point run by the Gamecocks duo of Ana Cruz and Allie Gretkowski who went on to win 7-4. The No. 3 squad of Gabriela Martinez and Laura Masic led 3-2 in the set but couldn’t force a break and a tiebreaker would decide the team point. The Tigers ran out to a 3-1 lead ahead of things getting knotted up at four points apiece. South Carolina’s Elise Mills and Misa Malkin scored two quick points before the Tigers responded to make things 6-5, but the final point went the other way, giving the Gamecocks a 7-5 set win and the doubles point.

The momentum flipped for the home squad in singles as they celebrated their senior day at the Carolina Tennis Center. South Carolina picked up straight-set wins at No. 1, 3 and 5 singles to clinch the 4-0 match win.

Artemedi won a 7-2 tiebreaker in her first set to move out to the lead at no. 6 singles and led 5-3 in the second, but her match went unfinished after the clinch.

Mizzou returns to action next weekend, facing Alabama on Friday, April 7, 2023, at 2 p.m. CT ahead of a matchup with Auburn on Sunday, April 9. Friday’s match will take place at the Country Club of Missouri in Columbia where the first 100 fans in attendance will receive a Mizzou wall flag. Sunday’s contest will be at the Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield with an 11 a.m. first serve. 

#25 South Carolina 4, Missouri 0

Doubles
1. Inah Canete/Mae Canete (MIZ) def. #70 Ayana Akli/Sarah Hamner (SC) 6-4
2. Ana Cruz/Allie Gretkowski (SC) def. Emelie Schwarte/Andrea Artimedi (MIZ) 7-6 (7-4)
3. Elise Mills/Misa Malkin (SC) def. Gabriela Martinez/Laura Masic (MIZ) 7-6 (7-5)

Order of finish: 1, 2, 3

Singles
1. #6 Ayana Akli (SC) def. #75 Mae Canete (MIZ) 6-2, 6-1
2. #16 Sarah Hamner (SC) vs. Laura Masic (MIZ) 7-6 (7-4), 4-1, unfinished
3. Gracie Mulville (SC) def. Emelie Schwarte (MIZ) 6-4, 6-4
4. Misa Malkin (SC) vs. Gabriela Martinez (MIZ) 7-5, 4-2, unfinished
5. Elise Mills (SC) def. Inah Canete (MIZ) 6-2, 6-2
6. Allie Gretkowski (SC) vs. Andrea Artimedi (MIZ) 6-7 (2-7), 3-5, unfinished

Order of finish: 1, 5, 3