March 19, 2009
Up Next
The No. 33 South Carolina women’s tennis team (7-6, 1-3 SEC) takes a break from SEC play this weekend when it heads to the Sunshine State to face No. 49 Florida International (11-5) on Friday at noon in Miami and then USF (4-8) on Sunday at 10 a.m. in Tampa, Fla. FIU is currently riding a six-match unbeaten streak and has just four regular-season matches left this year before playing in the Sun Belt Conference Championships. The Golden Panthers have played one other SEC team this year, defeating Ole Miss 4-3 in Athens, Ga., at the ITA Kick-Off Weekend. USF began the year with five consecutive losses but has won three of its past four matches. The Bulls have several common opponents with South Carolina, having lost to Furman and VCU earlier this season, teams the Gamecocks defeated, but they upended Ohio State who beat Carolina at the ITA Kick-Off Weekend. USF hosts Kentucky the day before the Gamecocks come to town.
Last Time Out
Following a 5-2 loss to then-No. 15 Tennessee, South Carolina fell in a hard-fought battle to second-ranked Georgia 6-1. Three of the top four singles matches went three sets and the Bulldogs managed to snag each of them. Gira Schofield and Dijana Stojic lost 6-4 in the third in their matches at positions one and three, while Natasa Vuckovic lost 7-5 in the third at No. 4 singles. Ana Marija Zubori won her match at the No. 2 spot to give South Carolina its only point.
Florida International Series History
Friday’s match marks the first meeting.
USF Series History
Sunday’s contest at USF marks the ninth all-time meeting the Bulls and Gamecocks. The two teams last played in February 1999 in Columbia, S.C., and South Carolina won by a 9-0 score. The Gamecocks hold a 7-1 advantage in the series with USF. The only win by the Bulls came in 1986.
